Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1897-08-21
KEOZIE AVENUE VS.. WEST PARK
BOARD.

The West lark BOnrd IN having u
contest with the residents ~ North
Kc'lzIe avenue. The latter want IN.
creased transportation facilities and
have for long time been urging the
West Chicago street Railroad Com.
pnny to build - crOsstown line from
Madison street to Chicago avenue. This
would give the Kedzie avenue people
connection, with the northeastern Ior-
ton OF ths city through, Chicago avenue
nnh to the central AMI southern portion
through Madison street.
The street railway company hns
agreed to build the road and II ready
to do No at once. Rats and other ma.
terial are already distributed along the
line. but M unexpected Si,ptuitiOn from
the West Park Board prevents any.
thing further being done. Consequent
~ the people Of Ketlxiss svenue IRE
Justly Indignant and seem likely to
make things lively.
1t seems that this new cro~stOwn line
Will Cross two Of tho bOulevards TINT
nre uusler the control OF ti,c Park
Hoard apsl That fact gives that hoard a
veto upOn the construction Of the On.
tire line. This veto or refusal Of con.
sent on tho part Of the board practically
prevents the construction Of the line.
Just how the members Of the Park
Board eau justify such opposition to
the eUossPurtlOn Of u railway linp that
II much needed by the people IN not
manifest. Some are ugly enough to In.
sfnuate thst II In merely hOltl.up OF
the railway company to see how much
'there IL IR IT, ~ the boys say.
More likely. however. It IL the result
OF persoarp p5slue on the part OF some
member a. Rsenilbers who take more
pleasure In gratifying themselves and
In annoying the railroad company than
they do In complying with the wishes
Of the people. AZ near az Gun be ascer-
taIRssi- Andy Graham IL the principal
opponent Of the Improvement. Andy IL
n goOst Democrat on Republican
beard, and X he cun induce that board
to ,iO an unpopular thing and refuse to
comply with the wishes Of the people It
will do no goNtl to the Republican par.
~. but mny help Ills Democratic
friends. Andy Is far-seeing.
But Andy has another reason for OPP
posing the enterprise. lie lives on
Washington boulevard near Ketlzie,
ana does not want to hear the sound Of
the street-car bells. He has street cur
lines within n block or two of him on
each side. and does not need any addi-
tlOnal means of transportation. What
matters II to Andy, who has the bOule-
ward for his carriage and two street car
lines for his other accommodation.
whether people on Kedzie avenue have
any transportation or not! He was put
onto the park board. rs he thinks. for
his own glory and honor, ana not to
bother himself about Kedzie avenue
people. Especially It was not expected
of him to put himself to any annoy
hnce that others might he benefited.
That N u narrow way to look ut such
u position rs the one Andy enjoys by
virtue OF his appointment by Governor
Tanner. But that Is not the way wise
men consider 1t. As II member OF the
park board Andy Is n servant of the
people. He was put there because the
Governor thought he would make a
wise servant Of the people. Now IT,,
whenever he thinks his personal inter
ests come in conflict with the interests
OF the people, he Is going to ignore the
latter he is the wrong man for the po-
sltiOn. One hundred men In republic
ought 10 have more influence than one
man. but In this case It Is many hun
dreds to one. Can't the park board
teach Andy lessOn?-Inter Ocean.