The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-19
SHALL SHOPS STAY HERE?
J. J. HILL HAS A BIG SCHEME
IN PROCESS
Care for the. Great Northern Sys.
tenn In aaFactOry to be Owned
by It-SmaIIer Cities Are Rid-
ding for It-COncessiOns Asked
of st. Paul.


ding for It-Concessions Asked
of st. Paul. Is
1t has been rumored for some time
past that President Hill, of the Great
Northern railway, was to make extern
sive improvements in the shops of the
Great Northern either at st. Paul or
elsewhere on the line.
City officials and members Of the
chamber of commerce and Jobbers'
union are taking an active interest in
the matter, as the removal OF the shops
would take from the city one Of the
large industries, and it is with the well
rare OF the city at heart that the sub
stantlal men of st. Paul have on foot
a movement to retain for st. Paul the
industry, and secure the improvements
and extensions which are contemplated
by President Hill.
Yesterday afternoon score or more
representatives of the commercial
bodies of the city met in the mayors
office. with several of the city coun-
Gil and discussed the matter at length.
1t was urged that the retaining Of the
Great Northern shops was Of vital i'm
portance to the city, not alone because
OF the extensive outlay which would be
made in increasing the facilities of the
plant when removed to another loca-
ton, but because of the number Of men
already employed, most Of whom were
mechanics and had purchased homes
in st. Paul
1t was said that Mr.. Hill was desir-
GUS of securing the right to use several
streets on the north side of the right
OF way of the Great Northern between
Mackubin and Dale streets which had
been plated, but never opened for
travel. The Great Northern owned the
hint inv lHnA
Mr.. Hill had expressed. himself as quite
favorable towards the site, if certain
concessions were granted by the city
and the streets vacated. 1t was brought
ont that the Great Northern railway,
IN order to make the improvements de-
sired, would have to move the shops
from their present location to the prop
erty between 1Mackubin and Dale
streets as the present site is wholly
inadequate to accommodate the build
1ngs Which willFbe put up to carry on
the mechanical end of the road.
In order to utilize the land to the
best purpose, these streets will have to
be vacated land some arrangement
made whereby the city will cede the
use of these streets to. the Great North
ern, as several of the shops will cover
very large acreage, and will be the
largest railroad manufacturing shops
IN the Northwest. 1t was the inten-
ton Of the Great Northern to construct
their own engines and build every car
needed to handle the traffic of the road,
In addition to the regular repairing
and renewing work adjacent to the me-
chanical end: of the railroad. 1t was
SAID at the meeting that President Hill
was willing to let the shops remain
In st. Paul if the city would grant him
the use of the streets.
1t was also stated at the meeting
n rryhn %D1
some statistics and other evidence of
the Importance of the railway shops in
st. Paul, that President Hill felt that
st. Paul had never granted him one
thing which he had not paid for and
paid for dearly, too. Mayor Kiefer
stated that a committee of mechanics
waited upon him during the morning
to see If something could not be done
to head off the project to remove the
shops The mayor said that the dele a.
ton was comprised of men who had
bought homes in the vicinity Of the
! Oakland cemetery, and if the shops
were removed it would mean that they
would lose their savings, which they
had invested in their houses, as the
property would have little commercial
value if the shops were taken away.
Several of the jobbers discussed the
matter. 1t was brought, out that it
was through. the jobbers that it was
first learned of Mr.. Hills intention to
rebuild the shops, and that the city
could not afford to loose the shops and
the men there employed. 1t further
developed during the meeting, that Mr.
Hill had for some time felt as if he
had not been treated right by the CITY
council. The old Park avenue matter
was discussed. Mr.. Hill had, It was
said, given the city all the time it
wanted to vacate Park avenue, and as
,q It'll
certain local politicians who were at
the time members of the council, the
matter was STAYED off and Mr. Hill, at
tie request Of some of the council, put
the matter off for another six months.
At the expiration of that time nothing
was done, and Mr.. Hill removed part
Of his mechanical department to St.
Cloud. After this had been done the
council voted to vacate the street, but
not until after all arrangements for
the transfer of the shops to ST. Cloud
were completed, too late to do anything
in the premises. The Milwaukee shops
had been driven away from st. Paul
some years ago by a similar proceeding
on the part of the council, and it was
hoped that the council at this time
would Encourage local industries.
A wellknown jobber stated that he
did not think Mr.. Hill would allow
that matter to influence him, as he was
working in the interest of the Great
Northern road, and the keeping of the
shops here, If the concession asked for
were granted by the city council was
only beneficial to the interests of the
road.
AIS a result of the meeting a commit
tee was appointed to wait upon Presi-
dent Hill and ascertain just what his
views were on the subject. The fol-
lowing committee, headed by Mayor
Kiefer called upon Mr.. Hill later In
the afternoon: Assemblymen Kirke
and Dix, Comptroller J. j. McCardy
and City Engineer L. w. Rundlett.
Although the committee did not go
before Mr.. Hill and promise that the
city would vacate the streets in ques-
ton, ais it had no authority to do SO,
Mayor Kiefer assured the Great North
ern's president that it was the wish Of
the people of st. Paul that the shops
be retained here. They would be will
ing to do everything in their power to
make it possible for the company to
locate the industry here. Both the a.
semblymen present were in favor Of
granting the concession. Mr.. Hill was
frank with the committee, and stated
that the city had never granted him.
the smallest concession, yet he would
do the right thing. He intended to put
in a plant which would employ many
times as many men as were engaged
ait the present railroad shops at the
head of jackson street.
There had been delegation after dele
cation to seerhim from points along the
line, all desirous of securing the shops
for their towns The committee spent
two hours with Mr.. Hill, who went over
every detail of the matter carefully,
and told the committee he would be
glad to see them at any time.