The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-23
THE SPUR A NECESSITY.
CoCyCTLMEN INVESTIGATE THE
POST STREET RAILROAD.
Business Men Want II 10 ne
There in the Aid of Local '"m-
nsrce-Ctty Enxtneer sees y"
Roaso. Why II should he Torn Up.

Councilman gzyin has been roaring 50
fosd ard so long over what he says -
steal of the peoples property IN e0.a''ss
ton with the railroad spar Wa4ea = -.
Calfraa, with tas permission o. the n9aFa
Of public works, caused 10 De Iazd aci o~s
Columbia street into Post street. tnat me
city council yesterday investigated me
matter. Instead cf reaching the coEaelsAsion
;uat Councilman Say.a's position Is cor
rec. the council u inclined TO the belief
that the spur Ia q necessity and Will Ike
iy permit It to be q permansncy. the
business houses or Post street so desire
No action OF the board OF public works
In recent years has created 80 m1cn sur
In the council as has Its action IL grant
ing TO Mr.. coinsn = permit &c cross CO.
.urnbia street into Post street WITH
spur. The permit was issued az the time
work commenced on the new Colman
building. To get material from the rail-
roads 10 the building site, /. was absolutely
necessary that the spur should exist. Inc
board Of public works realized that tact
and granted L. The spur connects with
the track OF the Northern Pacific and the
old Oregon Improvement Company.
Abou. the time the building vas com
pleied Councilman Navtn made one OK Ills
characteristics speeches. In which he said
that Colman and his crowd were trying 10
revive the old rams horn" trouble by
falling Ia take Up the spur. SaFin n
sisted that the board OF public WORKS n Adj.
In his Judgment, exceeded it's authority in
issuing such a permit There was but
one way TO allow . track, such as the spur,
10 be laid over and along city property
and that was by securing franchise from
the city council. Nav.n demanded an IN
vestIsatisn He said If the spur was al
lowed 10 continue the city would find It.
self !n a mudd!e like that OF few years
ago. which cost the taxpayers so mueh
money For a time the council did not
give the matter much attention. but
Navin Ii d fighter and whenever The OPP
portunity presented Itself he roasted tne
board OF public works. and wanted 10
know when Coiman was going to remove
the spur.
AT Monday nights meeting OF the coun-
eli Nav.n again brought mp the alleged
steal and the council finally agreed 10 get
at the truth of the matter. When they
visited Columbia and Post streets yester-
day afternoon they were met by a mo-
jority of the business men who have their
headquarters OF either side OF Post street.
between Columbia and Marion. They in
sisted that II would be great injury to
the commercial interests of the city. and
work hardship on them and their bust
ness, for the council TO have the spur torn
ZIP on Columbia and Post streets, unless
permission 10 put down a new one was
given. These business men explained TO
the council III detail the statements they
made They stated that 1t would be an
easy matter TO make the track conform
10 the level OF the street. so that driving
would not be interefered with. Every
house along the street, IL was stated. is
constantly receiving car loads OF goods
and II the spur were removed il would
be- necessary to haul these goods on
wagons from the cars to the houses.
Councilman Navin was alone In protest.
ing against any action which would re-
suit In the track remaining along the
streets. Several of the eouncilmen asked
City Engineer Thomson. who sceompan~
led them on their INVESTIGATING tour.
what he thought OF the desire OF the bust
ness men that the spur remain. Mr.
Thomson was outspoken concerning the
matter. He said In substance:
II can sec no reason why the council
should not allow the track to remain il
If is made to conform TO the grade OF the
street. l say that. prcsuming tina; the bus
mess men want the spur. II they do
then there IA every reason why they should
have IL. Every other city o. any inpoy-
lance in the world advances its CONNER
c!al interests 10 the extent OF allowing
such spurs 10 be maintained. If the city
IL too good To countenance such improve
II In and mada no further attempt to ad-
vance"
After the councilnen had talked over
the matter II was agreed that the matter
should be taken up next Wednesday. In
the meantime II Is expected that the bust
ness men along Post street will prepare
petition FOR presentation at that meet
Ing asking the council TO allow the track
20 remain.
During the afternoon the council held
another meeting relative 10 certain tide
land matters In which the city ard some
dock-owners are interested. Under the
present readtustment 81 the tide lands
some Of the doCk-ownhrs ind that por-
ton Of their property Is on Railroad ave.
nue. They do not care to remove their
buildings ard have asked the council 10
lee them remain where they now are an
tti they are worn out and new buildings
are necessary. The council has about de-
cided that the property shall not be dts
turhed for a period rot 10 exceed Gve
years, with the understanding that these
dock owners will agree % abide hv The
reaijus;nsnt Of the tide lands. and erect
their new buildings IN accordance with
the readiustment.