Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-09
UNION DEPOT SITE
COMES UP AGAIN
Council Committees Hear Argu-
ments For and Against
PROPERTY RIGHTSQ QUESTION
Another Tour Of Inspection IL 90 be
Made Next Wednesday -Hesult
OF the Meeting.

The Council committees on munich
pal laws and streets, with city Attor-
ncy Stephens associated, met last even
ing for the purpose OF further consld-
ering the union depot franchise Ques-
ton. Chairman Thomas, the presiding
officer Of both committees, was present,
as also were all the members Of the
committees.
The oregon Short Line was repre-
scented by Attorney p. l.. Williams,
Traffic Manager Eccles and Acting
Chief Engineer Crltzer. The Rio Grande
Western by Attorney Andrew Howat,
w. G. Sharp, Engineer Yard; l., b.
Wicks, the real estate agent, was also
in attendance.
The protestants present were Attor-
ney James II. Moyle, Peter Reid, James
Thomson J. J. Corum. w. A. Hodges,
j. Il. Openshaw, d. J. Jenkins and three
or four other owners Of property in the
vicinity Of the railroad deoots
The first to address the meeting was
Peter Reid who said that the people he
represented were favorable 10 the build
ing OF union depot, but they OBJ
jected to the closing Of any streets I'M
Ill the closed part Of the streets had
been provided with yiaducts. He also
said the property owners wanted COM
pensation for damages on account Of
the streets being used for additional
trackage.
w, A. Hodges thought the railroad
people should be made 10 put Fourth
West street In good repair before the
franchise was granted. Mr.. Hodges
further suggested the erection Of VIA
ducts over South or North Temple
streets.
James Thompson was OF the opinion
that the railroads should be required
to buy out all private property on the
tier OF blocks north from the Rio
Grande Western depot between Fifth
and Sixth West
]. j. Ccrum suggested the con-
demning all the tracks Of both roads,
j. r. openshaw did not want to see
Fourth West street occupied by any
more railroad tracks,
Attorney James H. Moyle was the
next to address the meeting. He said
Il was the aim OF the railroad com
panies to control the entire country
from Third 10 Seventh West In order
70 force valuable concessions for termi-
nal facilities when other railroads came
to the city. Arguing from legal
standpoint Attorney Moyle contended
that the City Council was not vested
with authority In law TO grant use OF
any streets to railroads unless yiaducts
are built TO make travel over the
tracks safe Unless the railroads and
protestants agree on this point he pre-
dicted long and yexatious litigation be-
fore the franchise Is val!dly granted,
Attorney p. l.. Williams pointed out
the necessity and gave some Of the ad-
vantages OF a union depot to a city.
IL would be impossible he said TO find
a site anywhere w the city where some
property owners who wanted 10 sell out
at exorbltant prices would not object.
The railroad companies could bet
ter afford to do without the union
depot and connections, which would
cost 100000 and meant no extra reve-
nues TO the railroads. than the people
Of Salt Lake could afford 10 be without
II by denying the petition for the fran
chise AS to viaducts. they would be
built when the necessity for them came,
and on the subject OF damages 10 prop
erty. Mr.. Williams said the courts were
open for the settlement Of such ques-
tons
Mr.. Eccles declared that last year the
two railroads had an interchange Of 20
600 passengers in ogden. The freight
distributing business was increasing
II could be just as well conferred in Salt
Lake.
The committees adjourned without
taking any action, having decided to
visit the streets which the proposed
franchise viii affect on Wednesday af-
ternoon starting from the Oregon Short
Line depot az o'clock. All interested
are invited to go along.