Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-04-02
JOHN n. COLviN'S RECORD IS
CLEAR.

COlvin's first opportunity to range him
self on the side of franchise grabbing
corporations came in the session Of
June 8, 1882, when he voted for an or
dinance to turn over part of the Lake
Front Park to the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad. The ordinance was beaten"
The statement is untrue. A resolution
was introduced by Alderman Wicker
sham page %. Council Proceedings.
1889 and 1889 and referred to the Com
mittee on Whnrves and Public Grounds.
II was on July 20 reported back from
the committee with the recommended
ton that 1t be passed. 1t was passed.
hut Mr.. Colvin did not vote for the
same (p. S3). and is recorded absent NJ
such meeting Up. 10.
Further, the Tribune says: "On June
IL. 1889, Alderman Culvin introduced
an ordinance instructing the Mayor and
Commissioner of Public Works to take
possession of the Exposition building
ON the lake front for the use Of the city.
II was chen thought likely that the ex-
position people saw the point. Colvin
never passed IT,"
II Is true that COlvin introduced this
ordinance and many others, and mt the
urgent request of the then Controller
of the city, +. r.. Quincy. lie stated to
me the facts In the case. lie said that
permission had been granted In 1871
to erect a Temporary building and struc-
ture on the lake front for one year. and
the company had now occupied II about
nine years. and 80 long that Il thought
II owned the land rs well rs the build
ing. and that the city had lost is in-
tercst In the property. Mr.. Quincy de.
sired me to continue the fight, which I
did continuously from June II. 1882.
until March 10, 1883. when the Com
mittee on Public Buildings reported an
ordinance on that day, in which the en-
position company recognized the city
as landlord and itself nv tenant. The
committee recommended It's passage.
A compromise having been effected b..
tween the Controller and the exposition
company, lease was made at nom.
inal rental Of $500 per annum.
This result was agreeable to the pub.
lie demand, and, having accomplished
this, the matter came 70 It's desired end.
TNie company was to vacnte on short
notice, nnd did when ordered by the
city. The fncts stated herein can be
verified by Frank Barrett. present AZ.
slstant Controller. On my motion, May
4. 1883 (p. 44G, the report and Ordln.
ance were placed on flie-vOte, % to =.
Alderman COlvin voting yea.
The Tribune then says: '"rhe first ap.
pearance as champion Of street rail.
way corporations made by the man
tmeaning Colvln) who II now trying TO
break into the City Council again was
on July 10, 1882. He then voted and
spoke against general ordnance re-
quirlng street ears to stop for pnssen.
gers In the middle OF long blocks as
well as mt crossings" What are the
facts? On page 3. Council Proceedings.
July 10, 1882, will be found the follow.
Ing ordinance:
That section 1920 Of the municipal
code Of Chicago he amended to read az
follows: Street cars shall stop to take
on and let or passengers. provided that
In blocks more than 600 feet In length
street cars may stop each OOO feet.
Each team Of horses hItchetl to q street
cur shall have bell attached 20 them.
Ordinance passed; vote. p yeas,
nays; those voting against being Pur-
cell. Lawler, Meyer efficiently. and
yanl,onou ALBANIAN <so1,,i,, s,os.I r.,u
instead Of against the ordinance.
Further on the Tribune says: ION
April 30, 1883, Colvin voted for nm or.
dinance granting the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company the right to lay
tracks across West Water ana Canal
streets without any pay for the use OF
the streets"
What are the facts? The ordinance
will he found on page ~. Council pro
ceilings 1882 and 1853, ana reads as fol-
lows:
Section I. That permission and au.
thOrlty IL hereby granted to the Penn.
sylvanla Company, operating the Pitts
burg, Fort Wayne and Chicago Rail
way. TO lay down and Opeqnte single
track, extending from the center Of
West Water street to and across the
west line Of North Canal street. ut such
point within distance Of the south
line Of Fulton street as said company
selects. Provided. that II there IL a via
duct ordered built over said truck by
the City Council this company shall
pay Its proportion OF the expense OF
building said viaduct and the approach.
es thereto, or at it's option TO remove
said track and switch forthwith.
Sec. 2. Said track shall not be elevat-
ell above the surface Of the street, and
shall Ike so laid that carriages and 9TH
er vehicles can easily and safely pass
over the same at any time and at all
points and In any and all directions.
Sec. 3. This ordinance Is granted upon
the express condition that said COM
pany shall enter into bonds with the
said city OF Chicago In the penal sum
OF $4,000, with good and sufficient
sureties, to save and keep harmless
from any and all claims for damages
for or on account OF the laying and OPP
Grafton Of said track.
This ordinance was passed by the fol
lowing vOte-yeas 2S, nays q:
Yeas-DiXOn. Wickersham, Apple.
ton. Phelps. Watherell, FOss, Altpeter,
Lawler, CullertOn, RiOrdan, Hildreth,
n ~