Omaha daily bee., 1898-11-20
CONFERENCE ON In ST. PAUL
Terminal Company and Omaha Road Try for
Compromise Again.
OUTCOME IS NOT EXPECTED TO Be FINAL
Local Roads Have Ranged Them
selves ON One side or the other
and the Fight VIII he 20
the Bitter End.

The ecene Of the controversy between tn,
Omaha Bridge and Terminal railway, which
wants to get a track into the heart OF tn
city. and the Chicago, st. Paul, Minneapolis
Omaha, which wants to keep the termina
company out, was transferred yesterda,
from Omaha to ST. Paul. General Manage,
Webster Of the terminal company left fol
st. Paul on Friday evening. and will ther,
go over the entire situation with Genera
Manager W. A. Scott Of the Omaha road.
Opinion In railroad circles differ regard
Ing the probable outcome OF the st. Pau
conference. Some officials think that ar
agreement between the rival companies VIII
be reached and that there would be nc
further trouble. But the great majority con.
slider that more than the use Of Fourteenth
street is involved in the fight, and oplne
that 1t will be case Of the survival Of the
strongest, or, In the popular vernacular, q
hight to the finish.
The meeting OF the city council In com.
mittee Of the whole on Monday. Is looked
forward to by all the railroad fraternity
as OF the greatest Importance. At this
meeting will probably be finally decided the
fate OF the pending ordinance giving the
Omaha Bridge and Terminal company the
right to extend its tracks down town. The
pass, but by a small majority.
Roads in the Fight.
As nearly as It is possible to classify the
railroads, from expressions Of opinions from
their leading officials, 1t appears that the
ordinance is favored by these companies:
The Omaha Bridge and Terminal railway.
the Burlington. the Chicago. Rock Island &
Pacific. the Chicago. Milwaukee & st. Paul
and the Kansas City. Pittsburg & Gulf
With the exception Of the first two none
OF these lines are taking any active hand
in the fight. The Burlington wants the
ordinance passed because 1t wants a con-
nect!on with the terminal company's tracks.
The Milwaukee and the Rock Island roads
at present use the Union Pacific bridge. but
they figure that II another bridge across the
river were to be opened up TO traffic they
could be much more Independent with the
Union Pacific, which now controls the local
freight situation absolutely and beyond ap-
peal. At present II the Rock Island or the
Milwaukee road wants car moved across
the river 1t must walt until the Union Pacific
gets good and ready to move the car, and
suggestions that quicker service might be
given by the Union Pacific are promptly and
effectually rebuffsd with the answer: "If
you don't like the way We handle your cars
get some other company to haul them across
the river" This generally ends the argu-
ment since the Union Pacific now has the
only bridge that can be used. The Port
Arthur route is anxious to see the orGi-
nance passed. as II expects 10 erect a big
freight house IN the vicinity Of Twelfth and
Davenport II the terminal company can get
down town.
The companies that are commonly re-
ported to be opposed to the pending ordi-
nance are: The Chicago. st. Paul. Mime
apolls & Omaha, the Chicago & Northwest
ern, the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri VAL
ey. or the entire Northwestern system, also
he Northwestern's closely connected line,
he Union Pacific. Only the Northwestern
ines have shown their hands in opposition
% the entrance Of the new company. The
Union Pacific has kept In the background.
out every one in railroad circles knows that
I can work just as we'll through the Omaha
'oad, or any other Northwestern line, and
hat the Union Pacific does not want another
bridge across the Missouri river at this point
'pened for general traffic purposes.
AS one man familiar with the situation ex-
pressed 1t yesterday: This fight is not
,ver small track on Fourteenth street
is a question Of using one bridge or two
'ridges. It's battle of the giants, and may
he best road win
Mayor vetoes the Resolution,
Mayor Moores has vetoed the resolution |
'assed at the last council. which ordered the |
3oard OF Public Works to tear up a strip |
4 track laid on Fourteenth street by the |
'hicago, Minneapolis, st. Paul & Omaha rail- |
DAD without permission from the city. He |
ook the action after going over the ground |
n company with City Engineer Rosewater,
resident Bingham Of the city council and
Jaynes OF the road.
In explanation. he says: II have come to
he conclusion that under the present cir
the track is doing no harm to
he interests Of the city and is Of great ben
At to shippers II the time comes that the
criminal company secures the right Of way
long the street, I may do differently, but
t present there Is no need OF tearing ND
be track. I called Mr.. Jaynes' attention TO
he fact that he should have secured per.
lission from the city to lay the tracks. He
Omitted that and agreed that there would
e no more trouble on that score hereafter"
Under the circumstances. therefore. the
ty will probably do nothing now until the
ext meeting OF the city council At that
me City Attorney Connell will have ready
Is opinion regarding the right. of the Union
acific and the Chicago. Minneapolis, st.
aul & Omaha railroads to retain possession
couple Of twenty-foot strips OF land that
It into Fourteenth street on each side of
lat road between Cunning and lizard street,
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