El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1897-09-15

That Levee.
There is no question of the impera-
tive necessity for protective leVee on
the city front, as w~s demonstrated IN
the great loss and destruction OF prop
erty from the late flood, and the dan
ger of its recurrence at any time In Ghe
future There is no question but what
it would be of great b-neht to the rail-
ways centering in our city TO have thl5
levee for a right-of-way through the
CITY. easterly and westerly as well as
nOrtherly and sOutherly. Then what
is the que tion or difficulty in securing
this levee through the harmonious &C
ton of the city aud the railways.
The city should secure and grant to
such railway companies as VII agree
to build this levee in substantial man
ner the free ard full right-of-way, and
with the privilege Of charging all Duh
err railways seeking passage through
the city for privilege OF using this
levee or any part of same.
The entire river front of the city Is
owned by very limited number OF
parties, and if these owners select to
offer to the railway companies, an un-
secure a levee such as VIII redeem and
render available their hitherto to over
flowed and hence useless property
along the river. Margin, who can offer
a reasonable or just objections; and es-
pecilaly if the donation is made
through the city council, in such man.
ner as will provide for the crossing OF
the levee, at intervals OF say 2OoO feet,
so as to provide for the building OF
other bridges between Ell Paso and
Juarez, in case the future grow OF
these cities should render the con-
s,ruction of such additional bridges
desirable.
1t is only question of a very limit
ed time, when all the railways enter
ing the city will be compelled to have
a union depot, and the day has passed,
when the limited facilities for absorb
ing the streets and alleys of the
city by railways for rights of way can
be obtained as heretofore. This was
demonstrated thoroughly in the stand
taken by our citizens, in the la,t-effort
of railway company to pass throu gh
the city from the Rio Grande to the
east, or south limit and north limits.
The future growth Of Ell Paso Is no
longer business proposition. but an
assured fact, and as the city increase s
in size in like proportion will increase
the obstacles toward railways passing
through it's limits especially 10 areas
demanded for both business and re-
sidence purposes.
AS business proposition then, 1t
follows: First, The city would not on
~ lose any thing by granting this fran
chise, to any railway company or com,
binat' on of companies, who would build
the levee. Second, Such railway COM
pany or com binatiou of companies
would secure magnificent investment,
which would not only prove OF i'm
mense value for their own present uses
but would yield far more than the con-
struction of the levee, in future sales OF
franchises to other railway comps
MES.
Third, In case the railways now here
fail to secure from lack of enterprise,
or jealousy of each other, this rich
| concession now offered by the city II
would be wise move for our wealthy
citizens to form themselves into syn
dictate and build this levee as a specu-
latiOa, which is sure to yield them
rich returns in the very near future In
way of charges to railways seeking en-
trance TO the Union depot, and passage
way through the city.
The union depot is bound to come,
and that, too, il the very near future,
and wherever located every railway
line entering the city will be forced &c
obtain access and egress to aid from
it. 1t is hnmbug TO place unreason,
able restrictions upon the builders OF
the levee. Whoever will bulld it IL
good faith, let them have all facilities
possible for making it source of rev
enue as well as an easement.
If the railways now here should com
bine and build this levee, surely they
would be more liberal to new roads tC
come hereafter, than would prlvat-
land owners. The law cOmpels then
to grant facilities to other companle:
on reasonable terms, whether they like
it or not.
If the premises taken above are cor
rect, and we claim they are, why II
God IS name should there be any delay
whatever in settling this levee ques
ton, neither on the part of the city au
thorities or railway companies.
| RIPARIAN OWNER.