The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-20
ARE IN A CONCEDINC SPIRIT
BUSINESS MEN FAVOR THE
GREAT NORTHERN
Rather Than Have the Railway
COmpany's New Shops Built Else
where, They Would Grant Presi-
dent Hill Long-DeIayed Justice
"A Question of Contracts
Raised

The committee from the chamber of
commerce, Jobbers' union and city Of
nclals who are interesting themselves
In the proposition to grant to J. ]. Hill
and the Great Northern road certain
concessions held another session at the
mayors Office yesterday afternoon.
Present were w. B. Dean, j. B. San
born, N. P. Langford, Kenneth Clark,
W II. Lightner. j. A. Wheelock, J. J.
McCardy, Richards Gordon, A. R. Kirk,
George F. Dix, w. T. Kirke, c. N. Bell
and A. 8. Tallmadge.
The meeting was an executive one
and the two hours in which the COM
mlttee were in session were taken up
In an Informal discussion.
Inc Great Northern road proposes to
bulld on tract Of land owned by the
company and bounded by Dale, Mime
haha, Atwater and Arundel streets ex-
tensive shops. The erection Of the
shops, however, depends on the city va
catlng or agreeing not to open Kent,
Mackubin and Arundel streets across
the land owned by the Great Northern.
Ihe tract has never been plated, and
the three streets mentioned are neither
opened nor Travelled, but the city coun-
Gil mas 1t in It's power to at any time
order the opening of the streets.
"A committee CONSISTING Oh I'VE MEM
bers and with w. B. Dean as chair
man was appointed to prepare a petit
tion FOR presentation to the common
council to the effect that it would be
In the interests Of public policy to have
steps taken for the vacation Of the
streets across the tract owned by the
Great Northern and also to have an
agreement made between the city and
the railroad company which would re-
rfUht
the streets bridged across the right Of
way of the railroad company.
The committe also discussed the con-
tract which the railroad company
claims was made with the city in 1880.
by the terms Of which it was agreed
that in case any streets were to be
Drldged over the railroad tracks the
company should stand the expense of
the abutments and superstructure, the
city build the approaches, and after
the structure was completed the city
should forever after maintain the same
without cost to the railroad company
RMS agreement, or contract. was
signed by the officials Of the Great
Northern, st. Paul & Duluth, Omaha
and Milwaukee railroad companies. No
copy off, the contract can be found
which was signed by the officials of
the city and the legal department in
mandamus suit recently commenced
against the Great Northern company
to compel it to repair the Westminster
street bridge, took the ground that the
contract was void by reason that it
was not signed by the city officials
This is one of the points on which
Mr.. Hill, as the president Of the Great
Northern, claims that the road has
been given the worst Of it, and this
matter is to be adjusted if possible by
the committee from the commercial
bodies and the council.
The contract which Mr.. Hill claims
was executed between the city and the
railroad companies in 1880 applies to
the st. Paul 6, Duluth, the Chicago, st.
Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha, and the
Chicago. Milwaukee & st. Paul com.
panies, as we'll as to the Great North
ern.
1t was brought out at the hearing
Of the rnandamus proceedings that
even II the contract between the city
and the railroad companies had not
been signed by, the city officials that
some years after when the Third street
bridge was constructed an ordinance
was passed by the council in which
reference was made to the then sup
posed to be existing contract and the
contract was made part Of the ord
nance for the construction Of the Third
street bridge. This the ATTORNEYS for
the Great Northern claim was a rati-
fication Of the contract Of 1880 between
the railroad companies and the CITY.
and even if the original contract was
not signed by the city officers and an
proved by the council it would be of
force and legal by reason of the ratif-
cation.
Mr. Tallmadge, who acted as secre-
tary OF the meeting yesterday, said
there was nothing to give out for pub
ltcation, as the plans Of the committee
had not been fully matured and would
not be for several days. The members
of the committee, however, are prac-
tically unit on the proposition that
the concessions desired by the Great
Northern should be granted. especially
as upon their action depends the cree
ton of a plant. which will be of vital
Importance to the city and it's interests.