The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-24
NEWS OF RAILROADS
SEATTLE TURNS DOWN THE RE-
GUEST OF THE NORTHERN
PACIFIC RAILWAY
ALL PRIVILEGES ARE DENIED

with the Prospect of Quarter of
a Million Dollar Depot, the Coun-
.cfImen Refused to Grant Any
of the COncessions-Soo Is Hot
After North Dakota Territory
Around Local Offices.
The Seattle city council has reported adj
verse1y on the ordinances proposed at
the instance of the Northern Pacific for
the vacation of certain streets to enable
the company to erect depot and con-
struct terminal facilities. The city takes
the view that 1t is poor wisdom to va
cate the water front property, concerning
which there has been a fierce contest.
and the committee to which the ordi-
nances were referred for consideration
has recommended that the five ordinances,
which were designed to give the road
practically everything it asked for, be
indefinitely postponed, The petition for,
their passage is rejected.
This amounts practically to a defeat for;
the company, and will result in continued
litigation and trouble, if not in the entire
rejection of the Northern Pacific over
lures to the city looking towards the
erection of depot and. construction Of
costly railroad yards and terminals. Cass
Gilbert, of ST. Paul, prepared the Seattle
depot plans making estimates and specih-
cations for building of the most ap-
proved design, and costing more than
S25O, O00 The plans and specifications were
forwarded to Seattle two months ago. I'm
less the company can later secure re-
consideration of the ordinances it seems
doomed to lasting defeat. The council
committees report on the ordinances to
vacate streets and grant concessions TO-
the Northern Pacific concluded as follows:
"First-That we have carefully con-
sidered the. council bills referred TO- tne
purposes of which are to enable the
Northern Pacific Railway company to
construct it's proposed passenger depot
and freight warehouse. Representatives,
of the company have appeared before
your committee and explained the details
Of the contemplated improvements. On
the other hand, your committee has con-
sidered the several protests OF ell, clIz zen!
Your committee has also, by the personal
Investigation of It's members. sought to
advise itself thoroughly upon the matter
in order than an impartial decision, and
one of the best interests of the city,
might be reached.
''Second-As a result of these investi-
cations your committee is of the opinion
that it would be unwise to vacate streets
as prayed for in the petition and provid-
ed for in council bill No. 9S2, and since
the entire plan depends upon the vaca-
ton Of these streets, 1t is useless to con-
slider the other propositions. Your COM
mittee is assured of the entire good faith
of the petitioners = in desiring adequate
terminal facilities In tl1iss city, and is not
moved by the ancient hostility of few
persons against the former corporation
which operated the Northern Pacific rail-
''Third-Your COMMITTEES recommends
that all of said council Fbills3 Nos 979, $50,
981. $50 and eS3, be Indefinitely postponed
and that the petition be rejected.
"Fourth-Your committee returns here
with all papers, exhibits, maps and re-
monstrances referring to this matter
with the Recommendation that they be
placed on f1e."
1sMatters, therefore. look at present as
If the Northern Pacific would ultimately
depot plan, which was rejected by the
road some months ago. The adverse ac-
1tion Of the city council has thrown the
road out of its prospective terminals and
president. Hill has announced the plans
for the station and yards which the Great
Northern will construct at that point
s With no other site for the Northern Pa
eif1c in sight, President Hill authorized
Judge Burke, representing the road on the
coast, to make the statement that If the
Northern Pacific wishes to join the Great
Northern, and enter a union station, the
Great Northern will sell a part of It's pres
ent terminal property at the original cost
plus per cent interest. In this manner
the terminals Of both, could be secured on
q plan advantageous to both roads. Judge
Burke has stated that Mr. Hills plans are
to complete the work lin Seattle at once.