The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-11-04
What the West Side Property
Owners Want.
PETITION TO COUNCIL
VIEWS OF CITIZENS CLEARLY
SET FORTH.
Form of Petition Adopted at Meeting
Last Night-object to Tracks On
All the West Side Streets and
Want Them Concentrated AS Far
As Possible.

West side property owners TO the num-
Der OF thirty-oafe gathered in the West
minister PresbyteriaD chapel last night to
oppose the proposed trackage franchises
on Fourth West street. Ex-City Council
man Hugh Watson voiced the sentiments
of all those present by saying that now is
the time for the city 10 assert itself suffi-
GENTLY to see that the railroads are CEN
trallZed and not permitted to grfdiron
twO-thfrds of the entire western portion
of the city with their tracks, and. to es-
tabiish not only the site for Il union depot.
but union right of way for all time and
for all railroads that might eventually
seek an entrance into the city, to sci aside
certain territory for railroad purposes,
and keep the railroads within it.
Petition to Council.
The committee appointed to draft petit
ton 10 the common council. setting forth
the protests of the property owners on the
west side of Fourth West street, submit
ted the following report:
We. the undersigned citizens and tax
payers whose residences and property are
in the western portion of the city and
near the proposed passenger station here
matter referred to, respectfully remon-
strate against the granting Of the petition
Of Messrs. Bancroft Dodge and Welby,
asking for certain valuable franchises.
with promise of union passenger sta
ton.
I'm making this request NE would not
be understood as being unfayoTabie TO a
union passenger station or any other i'm
prOvements by the railroad companies.
but would submit the following reasons
for a modification of the franchise:
IF the petition as prayed tor is granted
il would mean an almost impossible net
work Of tracks running north and south
the city from Third West to Sixth West
streets. thereby cutting off street right of
way facilities TO a vast amount y, prop
erty owned by individuals whose entire
no ffnr1 Ef-f Of
small tract of land which would be rem
dered practically worthless when there
WAS no necessity for it. IL the railroads
were concentrated in one locality. and as
near as possible on one street. the pro-
posed action would not render street car
service a practical impossibility, owing to
many tracks. If the franchise is granted
as requested. il would also have the effect
of causing barrier to all travel to and
from this part of the city, owing to the
unnecessary closing of so many streets
and the danger TO life at these numerous
crossings.
We would also call attention to the
enormous expense of establishing viaducts
covering such a long distance.
I'VE also urge that the proposed location
of the said station is not in the interest
interest of spectators who have options
on lands which they desire TO sell a great
profit to themselves.
Our only desire is to have all railroad
-
thereby rendering il possible TO build via
ducts at street intersections for use of
street cars and general travel. and to
avoid unnecessary destruction of prop
erty and lives.
In submitting this matter. we feel con-
fdent that you Will not act without first
considering the interests of all concerned.
and We look TO you as our representatives
TO see that justice is done without retard-
ing the progress and development of the
city.
S. II. Tolles acted as chairman of the
meeting. and after the above petition to
the council was read he appointed A. B.
Jenkins. Nephi Mathews, Joseph Love-
Morgan Rowland. It. p. Lewis. Samuel
Boyd and Hugh Watson a committee of
seven to circulate among those interested
in west side property and obtain their
signatures to the above petition. A COM
nittee of three consisting of s. H. Tolles.
Hugh Watson and A b. Jenkins. was
then appointed to collect and compile the
petitions and present them 10 the city
council at the meeting next Tuesday
night.