Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-10
STORM OF PROTESTS IN COUNCIL.
Property Owners Demand Guarantee
from Fort Dodge Railway.

from Fort Dodge Railway.
The expectation that a number OF pro-
tests would be forthcoming at the meeting
Of the city council last night as a commit
tee Of the whole against the ordinances
granting the Fort Dodge q Omaha Railway
company a right of way through certain
streets and alleys and providing for the
vacation by the city Of certain streets, al
leys and avenues was fully realized and the
city fathers were made fully aware of the
fact that they have a decidedly difficult
problem before them to solve.
The interested property owners were out
In force and were all represented by at
torneys. The main keynote of most OF the
protests filed was that the city council
should not consider the ordinances until
the railway company had acquired all the
property abutting on the streets and al
leys sought to be vacated. either by pur-
chase or by condemnation proceedings, as
provided by law. The protest was general
against the city council taking any action
whatsoever until the right and interests Of
the property owners affected are settled rs
between them and the railway company
seeking the right Of way and vacation Of
streets.
Hon. d. c. Bloomer, who stated he repre-
scented a large number of interested prop
erty owners, started the ball rolling. All
he wanted to know was whether the streets
and alleys proposed to be vacated were to
be conveyed to the railway company or to
the owners OF the property abutting on
such streets and alleys. When informed
that it was to the property owners he said
he was satisfied and did not see that there
could be much objection raised in that
case.
He was followed by Attorney Hazelton,
who represented the real estate firm Of
Lougee & Lousee, ]. p. Greenshields, j. j..
Steadman ana others. Mr.. Hazelton said
he did not for a moment believe that the
ordinances had been submitted by the rail-
way company in the expectation that the
council would pass them. He believed
they had been introduced simply as a
"feeler,' and was of the opinion that the
Fort Dodge 6 Omaha railway was running
a "stupendous bluff" on the council. He
was not wishing to hinder anything that
would be a benefit to the city, but wanted
to encourage the Fort Dodge & Omaha rail-
way to come here. But ne wanted the road
to come the same as any other railway
and not attempt to practically confscate
the property of the people of the city. His
clients were not protesting with a view
to holding up the company. Far from
1t. There was not a property owner but
was willing to sell at a fair valuation, and
II this could not be agreed upon the rail
way had the right Of condemnation given
it by the statutes of the state of Iowa.
Attorney J. ]. Stewart appeared for Gill
bert Brothers., the ice dealers who own prop
erty on Avenue A and have a lease of the
ice privileges at Big lake In Lake View park
which the company seeks to cross. Gilbert
Brothers own five acres outside the city
limits which the road wants to cut through
Mr.. Stewart flied a protest for his clients
and said he considered the move on the
part Of the railway company a huge-sized
joke, as no city council composed of intel
ligent men would, in his opinion, for one
moment entertain the idea of passing such
ordinances as those under consideration.
Cashier c. r. Hannah of the First Ma
tional bank also entered a protest and called
the attention of the council to the fact that
a year ago last December it granted the
Council Bluffs. East Omaha & Lake Man
ava Railway company a right of way over
some of the streets and avenues now sought
to be vacated by the Fort Dodge & Omaha
road.
Frank Everest and others also filed pro-
tests and Attorney Hazelton cailed atten-
ton to the fact that one of the city's main
sewers was on the avenue on which the
railway company proposed to build it's pas
senger and freight depots, provided the city
vacated the avenue. No action was taken by
the committee and it adjourned to meet this
evening, when President Duncombe of the
Fort Dodge & Omaha road, it is announced,
will be present.