The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-02
THAT BLIND ALLEY.
An Open Air Conference Held by Bust
ness Men and Aldermen.


There was quite a stir last evening in
the block between West Park and West
Galena streets on the north and south
and Main street and Renshaw hall on the
east and west. The aldermen were down
there and with them were a number of
business men and property holders of
that vicinity, and for an hour or two
there was more rag-chewing than you
could shake a stick at.
Several weeks ago people doing bust
ness in this block petitioned the council
for a blind alley to be run east from Rem
shaw alley in the midst of the block par
allel will Park and Galena streets,
reaching up to the rear of the buildings
facing on Main street. The business
houses along there wanted to get to their
back entrances, and the only way to do il
was by an alley. The council decided to
go ahead with the petition. as desired by
the business men, but last week a protest
was received from w. A. Clark.
The council decided to examine the
ground itself before settling the matter
finally, and so last evening the aldermen
went around to look the ground over.
Among the business men who were pres
ent in behalf of the proposed alley were
Lou Shodair, Judge Barrett, Chris Jack
ey, George Fitchen, representative of the
Symons Dry Goods company. and a num-
Der of others. Mr.. w. A. Clark was not
himself present i'm opposition to the plan,
but was represented by an attorney and
by his manager. A. II. Wethey. and by
Civil Engineer ID. b. ellis. The Clark
people objected to the alley for the rea-
son that they said Mr.. Clark wants to put
in a solid block from Park clear through
to Galena street. The other people said
that Mr.. Clark owns only 80 feet on Park
street and 30 on Galena, but Mr.. Wethey
said that Clark owns IS feet on Park and
over 100 feet on Galena.
"Mr. Clark wishes 10 nut nm a Snlel1did
building here" said Mr.. Wethey, "and
have an arcade run through from Galena
street to Park. He will put the arcade in
entirely at his own expense. and IL could
not be put in If there was to be an alley
there. The arcade would be "A great ac-
commodation for people desiring to. go
from Park to Galena street, and there will
be shops and booths along the sides of the
arcade
Those who are pulling for the alley ridi-
culed the idea of the arcade and said that
while there might be a benefit to Mr..
Clark and his lots IL would be no good to
the business men who want TO reach their
back doors. IF only for fire prote elton,
the alley ought to be opened up" said
George Fitchen. IF there was a fire in
there. there would be no way to get at it.
with an alley the fire department
could get i'm there and the property be
saved. The alley would be plenty wide
enough for teams TO pass"
The chief obstacle to the alley is the
Destroying Angel shaft. which still stands
in there as a reminder of early days. 1t
is in the path of the alley and woud have
10 be acquired in some way or else the
alley would have to turn around IT,.
The aldermen were divided in their
opinion over the matter. and no ~iconciu-
sion will be reached until the next council
meeting. One of the aldermen thought
that Mr.. Clark should be taken up on his
offer to build d fine business block in