The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-17

row part Of the bridge at the expense
of the street railway company.
Mayor Doran thought the danger on
the southeast end Of the bridge was
from the street cars and called atten-
ton to an ordinance which provided
that only one track be operated by the
street car company on the bridges dur
ing the months snow was on the
ground. The ordinance, however. had
never been enforced. If it was there
would be less danger. Aid. Sanborn
said this would necessitate two switch
es on the both bridges, and owing to
the expense the street car company
would not do 1t.
Mr.. McCardy objected to the motion
Of Mr.. Sanborn to put S11.500 in the es-
innate for repairs Of the bridge. He
advocated the putting in an amount
sufficient to start q fund for the re-
building Of the bridge and in lieu of all
other motions that s63500 be placed in
the estimate for 1898 for this purpose
Mr.. Bement insisted that the amount
to be spent on the other internal
bridges" be aScertained first before any
more money was appropriated for the
Wabasha street bridge. The engineers
report was then taken up. On the re-
pairs on Edgerton street bridge the
question came up as to whether the
city or the railroad companies had to
bear the expense. In the discussion
which followed copies Of an agreement
signed by ]. J. Hill, as general man
ager of the st. p, NJ. & NJ. Ry. COM
pany; H. 3. Sargent, of the N. P.
company; H. H. Porter, of the G. st.
P. M. & o. company, and ]. r. Ilsley,
Of the st. P. & D. company, were read.
The agreement In effect Is that the
companies shall build the abutments
and superstructure, over rights of way,
and the city build the approaches and
afterward maintain the structures.
The agreements were dated Aug. %,
1880. Assistant Corporation Attorney
Phillips informed the committee that
the legal department had never looked
at the agreements as contracts for
the reason that only the mayor of the
city at the time signed them. They
had never been agreed to by the coun-
Gill;
Mr.. Wheelock questioned whether 1t
would be policy for the city to force
the railroad companies to stand the
expense Of repairing the bridges. The
companies were in a position where
they could do the city a deal of good
or damage. He knew of several i'm
portant industries which were hanging
fire solely on the action to be taken
by the railroad companies. This was
a very important question as affecting
the future prosperity Of the city Sad
he advised careful consideration Of the
matter If the railroad companies were
advised that they would have to build
and maintain bridges, It was, to say
the least, not very encouraging to the
railroad corporations. He said 1t would
be good policy for the city to enter into
some agreement with the railroad COM
panies which would be satisfactory to
both parties. The committee figured
for some time and then decided that
500 100 would be necessary to repair
bridges as follows:
Edgerton street bridge, $4,500.
Third street, $12, 900.
University avenue, $4,000.
Westminster street, 81, 600.
Aid. Sanborn said some Of the $3.50, 900
appropriated for the street. sewer and
bridge fund could be used for repairing
bridges. Mr.. Copeland, Mr.. Rundlett
and the mayor were opposed to spend
ing any of the street fund for this pur-
pose This Is the fund from which the
street force is paid. and, as there are
two elections next year, the admins
tration officers evidently were not in
favor of cutting down this fund.
After considerable discussion and va
ricus suggestions by Mr.. Wheelock as
to how the roadway Of bridges could be
pldnkeQ lnSledu Ol pdNeu dHu q neat
sum saved the comptroller moved that
the item in the estimate for bridge re-
pairs be made 500, 600, of which amount
$63, 500 was to start fund for the re-
building of the Wabasha street bridge
and the balance to be used in repairing
other bridges. The city engineer
thought, with the S36, 500 left, If Mr.. Nc
Cardys motion carried he would be
able to get along. The motion, how
ever, was lost by vote of to 4,
Mr.. Sanborn then moved that $4,000
be the amount appropriated for the
bridge repair fund, an increase over
the comptroller's estimate of 100000
Before the vote could be taken Mr.. Nc
Cardy moved an adjournment which
was carried. 1t is the intention of those
members of the conference commit
tee who favor some appropriation for
the widening of the Wabasha street
bridge next year to bring the matter up
again at the meeting today. 1t is
hoped by those favoring the plan that
a full attendance of the committee can
be secured this afternoon, and the plan
proposed by the comptroller can be put
through.