The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-03-31
AN IMPORTANT MATTER.
which VIII Come Up For Consider
alton at the Next Council
Meeting.

hat occasion the members OF that ,
body will be called upon to decide
natter which is of the most vital i'm
Dortance to the interests OF the city.
The Southern Missouri & Arkansas
Railroad Company desires to vacate
he old trestle to the north OF the
depot, and in its place build dump |
from the depot to Independence street.
This dump is to be twenty feet nearer
tie lire OF abutting property than the
trestle, and will leave room for
street 40 feet in width. The railroad
also asks the council to permit it to
erect a handsome passenger depot, oil
brick and stone, on the eity's ground
in from. of the Riverview Hotel.
The opinion prevails among some
of the members OF the council tnat
the railroad company has no right
of-way along the river front at the
present time, but this opinion is an
erroneous one. The old lease to the
company gives the right-ot-way des-
ignated, and the track is now there.
It is true that this track has not been
used for some time, but it is there
lust the same and the company has
not abandoned its right to it. The
objection, that too much will be con-
ceded the company by giving what is
now asked for, is not we'll taken, as
the company, as stated, already has
the right-of-way north from Independ-
ence street.
The old trestle has become unsafe
and the company wishes 10 abandon
it and move in twenty feet. and In
consideration of the right to do this,
and the additional privilege of using
the city's ground in front OF the
Riverview Hotel, it will erect this
depot, and will also engage to entire
ly remodel and renovate the freight
depot. The urgent need OF proper
depot facilities here is one that is
painfully apparent, and all must con-
cede it: and if arrangements can be
made so this need will be supplied. Sc
much the better. The city can well
afford to pass the ordinance giving
the railroad the privilege asked fer
as it will certainly receive full value
in return. a handsome passenger
depot ut the point named, with trains
running into il. will be credit to the
city. and this offer of the railroad
should he sufficient to settle this mat.
ter in its favor and insure the passage
of the ordinance. There are a mum
ber of arguments that might be offer
ed in support of this contention, and
many reasons might be advanced fol
it. but the DEMOCRAT will only notice
two. and these briefly.
The first is. as to the saving to The
city for the expense Of work on Span
ish street. There is much heavy
traffic on this thoroughfare and it il
being badly cut up. If the counci
grants rnat is asked by the railroad
it will be a long sep toward goot
street where it is badly needed, from
| Independence street south to the
depot. This dump which the railroad
proposes to build will be built up tt
the street grade. Of course there vii
be a slope on both sides, and the dir
they will put in will not only max,
the dump, but will help build street
When the dump is finished, the cit!
can fill in the space between the dunn
and the edge of the city's ground ant
soon have an excellent street at 4 les!
expense than it takes to keep Spanish
street in repair. 1t is hardly neces
sary to speak of the good that ;
street along the river front from th'
mill to the depot would do.
Another point: Il may be urge'
that should the depot be built as stat
ed that the s. NJ. & n. Il. r. woul'
have IL monopoly on terminals her
and could shut other roads out
Such is not the case. If another roa'
should want to build in here an,
could not get the right-of-way it de
sired, and no favorable arrangement
could be made with the S. N. & \. f
R.. the road desiring to come in coul
institute proceedings in the nature C
condemnation and force the othe
read to allow it to use its terminals
There is no good reason why thi
ordinance should not be passed, an
variety of reasons why it should
The DEMOCRAT believes the counci
will decide that the best interests c
, the city will be served by the passag
of the ordinance.
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