The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-29
OPINION Sharply DIVIDED.
Wstsr Front Question Before
Real Estate Board.
oGr,n,rs ACTION POSTPONED,


nasalutaeas A0ainst Vacation o.
stxssts for NsstAsrn Pssahs Pre-
SEATED, nut Laid on Tabls-causs
Iavsly DsSats Bstwssn Friends
ana oppensnts Of Proposition
>, Ooamittss TO Investigsts.
~ lively discussion Of the question OF
4he vacation OF certain streets on the
vater front for the Northern Pacific
railway Company took place at the regu-
lar meeting OF the Real Estate Board yes
terday afternoon. A new view OF the prop.
osition was presented. with the result Una.
= proposal to take action against street
vacation was defeated early In the hght.
Subsequent action was taken which shows
that the contest In the board 10 not over
vet. and that there. will be another dis
cussion OF the question before hnal de-
cision Is reached.
President Morrison was in the chair
when Anthony Corcoran introduced and
read the following resolutions:
whereas, The Northern Pacific
city, council H q the a- city Of Seattle
seeking extensive railway privileges
on the water front in this city. and
whereas. The granting OF these
privileges includes the vacation OF sew
eral streets which are now among the
busiest thoroughfares in the city, and
whereas. The vacation Of these
necessarily prove great detripent to
the commercial interests of the city;
now. therefore, be II
Resolved. That this board Is unai-
terably opposed to the granting OF the
aforesaid petition of the Northern Pa
I. cific Railway Company. or like privi-
leges to any other corporation. as they
se 81 ana w senS to retard ra
Of the the city Of Seattle; and
Resolved. That z committee OF
chair to wait upon the city council at
III next regular meeting, and present
this resolution in behalf Of the Real
Estate Board Of the city OF Seattle"
Mr.. Corcoran supports Them.
Speaking in support Of the resolutions.
and referring to subsidies MT Corcoran
upon the Pacific and, Il necessary. TO
bring railroad to Seattle. 1t would be
Z great mistake to give away the water
IN ncs iao there ss now and
few streets could not then accommodate
it. Would It be thought for moment that
New York city would permit railroad
lit Is possible" said he, .for the city
At this time to give away advantages that
Re- ssr NEW YorS
great city Of the Pacific coast The Great
Northern depot viii BE- down below here,
and the Northern Pacific up town, and the
road sSsnne. donhiins tie number and
Il l.. there Is i railroad track on i nusi.
road company to OF pull i' the cars ; I'D with
horses, and to do 1t at night"
9: g. Bright supported the resolution,
1T will cost the city millions of dollars
in taxable property to vacate those streets.
In the city of Cincinnati, where the rail-
road tracks are laid, property that was
once worth 3, 200 per front foot is not now
worth $3.50. and Is not good for any ousi-
ness purpose except manufacturing. The
people Of Cincinnati are now very sorry
that they ever gave their consent to allow
Ing tracks on those streets. Seattle can't
AFFORD to. turn her water front over to
the Northern Pacific Railway Company.
II 1t IS given to the railway company, this
ble." ~
A. H. Mum spoke from the gloom in the
rear Of the chamber. but threw new light
on the subject. He said:
Il DO not think 1t wise for this board to
put itself on record in this matter. Our
usefulness. 1t seems to me- would be i'm
paired Il we DO. I move that we indefinite
~ postpone these resolutions"
Mr. Corcoran was quickly on his feet,
and with some warmth exclaimed:
1ndefnitely postpone the liberty OF Sc
atties I think It ts clearly within the prov
tnce OF this board to act on this matter .
II don't like the resolutions" said Andrew
Knox, their form nor the way they are
put, ana will vote for indefinite postpone
front. The Northern Paeia ep owns ,ng water fas
water front and It Is going to do business
npon It.. The city council should take ac-
0on to discontinue the use Of Railroad ave-
% get e this matter. Let the railroads go
70 smith cove II they want to, but keep
them OF Railroad avenue"
Mr.. Ward Replies.
D.. B. Ward took stand against the
resolutions. He said he favored their In
definite postponement.
Il have lived here since the fall of 1897
ne said and love Seattle, but 1 want
some proof that the vacation of these
streets would be detriment to the city.
We read In the newspapers that the Nortn-
with the exception of one block. The
water front OF this city comprises five miles.
Is l,o0O feet out OF fve miles OF water
front T. going to ruin Seattle? There is plenty
in the way. Why this thing Is the great
est bluff I've heard. Fifteen hundred feet
are not going to ruin this city. and the
people that want this concession are just
as good friends Of Seattle as anybody else.
don't think the Northern Pacific wants
to hurt Seattle. Bright men are at the heai
OF 1t. G. p. Wright is dead and buried
New men are in charge now hear a good
deal about the city being aroused. They
had mass meeting the other NIGHT. Out
Of population of $1,000 less than 1000 were
there"
James G. Givens. secretary OF the board.
said he thought action ought not to be
taken with such sinal; number of men,
bers Of the board present
The motion to Indefinitely postpone car
ried by viva voce vote.
A motion was then put, and carried, that
the chair appoint committee of five to