The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-09-21

1,Iotltihe WronE in their asking the two
large cities that 1t is primarily design
ed TO benefit to show their Interest in
II. Ihey have therefore asked the peo-
PIE OF Los Angeles-that is the bust
ness men, mechants and shippers of the
Siey-that they shall take $1,000, eco of
the per cent bonds which it is pro-
posed that the new company shall is
sue, and S250, Coz of it's stock The va
rlous commercial bodies of Los An
geies nave organized joint committee
70 bring this about and re are assured
mat our request win be complied with
we nave also asked of the towns
through which we are to pass in south,
ern California free rights Of way and
franchises and depot sites, and these
requests we are assured will be met in
the most liberal way.
Demands on Salt Lake.
I'VE are here 10 ask of the city of
Sat Lake that we shall have the ne
cessary franchises through it's streets
and depot facilities required to put us
upon equal terms with other railroads
doing business in your city We do not
ask these. accommodations except upon
the condition, that within a certain
time, 10 be named IN our agreement we
shall be operating between the city of
Los Angeles and the city Of Salt Lake
an Independent line of railway, whose
operation shall be confined entirely to
our corporation, which shall be indie
railroad.
Il will say in this connection. that
Senator Clark would not consent to be
come party to, and take an interest
IN the enterprise until we had arranged
10 put the control of the stock in a
pool, so that it could not be disposed
or Tor long period of years.
This agreement will be carried out
upon the organization of the new COM
pany, and IL will give absolute assur-
ance to our friends and patrons that
the company will continue to be indie
pendent of any other railroad corpora
ton
Benefits to Be Derived.
I think that to an audience as alive
as this is to everything tending to ben
ent your city and state, I need not
dwell upon the Importance of the pro-
posed road. One of your leading citi-
zenS stated the other day chat in his
Judgment it would result in your city's
population doubling within five years
after the road commenced operation
and 90 not believe this to be an exag-
gerated estimate. when we consider
the, as yet, undeveloped empire of min
erai ana agricultural wealth lying be-
tween this city and southern Calffor-
MIA, which the proposed road will open
10 the world and whose treasures will
be poured by millions into the inter
mountain metropolis which your people
by their energy have already made one
Of Best Construction.
1t may be of interest for you to
know that the promoters of the new
road propose that its construction shall
De OF the best, so as to constitute Il a
snort distance. high speed railroad line
between your city and the nearest Pa
cine coast port, and that it's equipment
shall be second to that of no road in
the United States.
4 believe some question has arisen
as TO the power Of the city to grant to
us the square which we have asked
as location for our depot in your city
AS TO that 1 can say that 1 have been
informed that the grant was sometime
ago made to a railroad company and
its validity was sustained in the courts
for several days past our attorneys
nave been looking into the matter. and
upon their advice we are willing to ac-
cept the title which the city can give
US. This title of course to be condi-
toned upon our agreement as to hav-
ing the road in Operati as I have inst
stated We believe that in this we are
asking nothing unfair or extravagant
and nothing more than the people of
the city are willing to give us, judging
by the fact that on two occasions in
the past the offer has been made to
other railroad enterprises"
Capital of Company.
Mr.. G.bbon went on to state shat
While the capital Of the company has
been proposed as $20, 600, O10 it was like
" that 1t would be larger, for the in
tentiOn was to build of the very best
material. and after the very latest and
improved plans. He said the second
important Offices Of the road would be
located IN Salt Lake, and that 1t was
more than likely that shops would be
erected here. the. mining re gions of the
state which the line would open making
this practical move.
Judge A G. Ellis of the legal firm
OF Dickson. Ellis & Ellis, next ad-
dressed the meeting. He said he did
not expect to speak of the great adj
Vantages afforded Utah by a new line
connecting her with the Pacific coast.
for they were well known. but he had
been requested. the judge said by
friends wholly disinterested in the pro
-Ject, TO give an opinion on the legality
OF donating Pioneer park to the new
enterprise as a depot ground.
The question has been raised by the
public press, and properly, said Judge
Ellis. THE ground was conveyed to
the city by a warranty deed and the
city council on July 6, 1898, passed an
ordinance setting it apart from now
on, hencefOrth and forever" as a pub
lie park. I was asked if it was beyond
the SCOPE of the city council to now
grant that park for this enterprise
City Can Donate Ground.
Upon research and the examination
that the city council can donate the
ground. The passage of the ordinance
or resolution is entirely different from
the deciding of the ground TO any par
ties or body. The question is, has the
city abdicated its power to convert the
park TO any other use than that of a
public park? The authorities say no.
The question has been decided in va
rious states. and in the judgment Of
our firm there is no obstacle In the
way of the giving of this ground"
As Judge Ellis concluded there were
cries for Varian, TO which the attorney
responded afte-' some hesitation. Mr..
Varian referred to the building of the
line as the dream of the people of this
state"
IT aDTs-ehend that there are no two
opinions on the subject Of granting it's
builders this park" said he. and 1
believe a motion in this body would be
the method of lea ming the sentiment"
Refers to a Dodger.
Mr.. Varian then produced a dodger
that had been circulated at the meet
ing. attacking the motives of the pro-
motors OF the road which he said had
evidently been designed to belittle and
obscure the question at hand. He
hoped there was not enough in it to
influence Il half dozen people.
1T seems incredible" he said, that
any person in Utah can be found will