The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-14
RALPH RUSSELL HAS A PLAN.
Recommends the Erection of a
Union Depot on the Seventh
Street site.

In line with the proposition, publish
ed in The G b e Feb. q. for the cree
tion of a new union depot, Mr.. Ralph
Russell has mapped out in his mind
plan which he believes to be very
feasible one.
1.-The article which appeared in your
columns the other day." said Mr.. Rus
sell to a G o b reporter, ''in the course
of which number of st. Paul business
men are quoted as favoring the removal
of the union depot from the river front
to the Seventh street fill, touches upon
a matter-or rather several matters
closely bound up with the city's well
fare and future growth.
"Our present passenger station has
been outgrown: no wholly satisfactory
plan of addition or enlargement has
been presented; and the uncertainty
arising from this unsettled state of af-
fairs seems to balk the plans of the
street railway company. Upon the So
luton Of the depot problem and the
local transit problem our future pros
perity must eventually depend.
''In vain will our park commission
ers map out pleasure grounds, and In
vain will our boards of trade advertise
our material advantages, while the city
bears unmistakable evidence of bad
management in its most vital public
interests.
various interests conferred In st. Paul
has, l am fain to believe, resulted in
many mercantile and many manu-
featuring concern taking up its abode
in the rival cities Of Minneapolis and
Duluth.
mo question is ever settled until 1t
Is settled right The depot question
and the rapid transit question will
prove no exceptions to this rule. I
shall be devoutly thankful If the sug-
gestions I have to offer shall pave the
way to a broader and more unpreju-
diced view Of the present crisis in the
city's affairs, whether they prove wor-
thy of adoption or not.
I'm considering depot locations, in
dependently of street railway facilities.
the river front has much to recommend
It, There is something historically fit
ting, in introducing the neWly-arriVed
stranger, as he sets foot upon the
citys threshold for the first time, to
the majestic Father of Waters flowing
by the citys front door.
"The fact that st. Paul proper, the
old village of the French voyageurs,
was laid out with narrow streets and
no provision made for breathing
spaces, no room given for trolley cars
the voice of the past bowling down
present progress-must be squarely
met and fairly remedied. To my
somewhat unscientific) mind the prob
lem has been presented in two aspects.
But that most feasible is the Seventh
street depot site. The contiguity Of
three of the present trolley lines the
opportunity for expansion which the
locality affords for retail business, the
convenience of trackage facilities and
the comparative cheapness of the land
to be acquired are considerations
which may outweigh the merely senti-
FOL a Mt Oa nf a
river front. In the opinion Of the
writer they should not be allowed to.
But the laws of trade are memorable,
and, though the change might upset
their fondeSt dreams, it is vain for in
dividuals to try to stay their operation.
AS we'll try to navigate the waters Of
Lake Superior In q sieve.
I'm case the Seventh street depot is
constructed, let it be a beautiful build
ing, honestly and substantially put to-
gether. And let all progressive and
patriotic St. Paulites lend a helping
hand. To one who has visited many
artistically laid-out cities, ST. Paul,
and more especially It's eastern por-
ton, seems rather a tumble Of conflict
ing and confusing plans than unified
and consistent whole.
ITO one standing on University av-
enue, north of the new capitol site, and
looking in the direction Of the sunrise,
the narrow length of Grove street ap-
pears as continuation of the avenue
beneath his feet. The Van Buren,
school building appears outlined
against the eastern sky, and the tangle
of tracks, shanties and bridges In Pha-
len creek ravine IS hidden from view.
A depot in that locality would, how
ever, put new significance upon the
aforementioned facts and suggest the
| idea of a broad boulevard avenue con-
Meeting the Twin Cities and tapping in
| itE straight or nearly straight, course
| the capitol, Robert Jackson, Broad
way, Seventh and the depot, and de-
bouching upon Dayton's bluff.
TT could be connected with the West
| side by making of Broadway a broad
way in fact as well as in name, and
running high bridge over the railway
tracks and the Mississippi river in the
direction Of the Dakota county boule-
ward system. However we may look
at 1t, the city will have to do some
street widening, even in its older and
well settled portions, before it will
strike the travelled and experienced
/ eye as truly metropolitan"