The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-03
A Iusr sETrr.E,1nNr.

JUST SETTLEMENT.
The question of the enlargement of
the facilities for handling the daily
growing traffic at the union depot has
now reached a stage at which it must
either find speedy settlement, or result
In serious embarrassment to every inter
est present and prospective, which is
Involved in the citys growth
The proposal now under consideration
Is one peculiarly favorable to the city.
1t is compromise agreed upon with
substantial unanimity by the representa-
lives of the municipality of the ship
ping interests of the community and of
The union depot corporation 1t will In
volve large OUTLAWS Of money for its
fulfllment by the depot corporation, but
1t will result in giving to the city ade-
quate facilities for handling its traffic
For some years to come. 1t protects the
public in the exercise of all rights in the
city water frontage which are worth
protecting, and it gives to existing river
traffic added conveniences and facilities.
1t is an unfortunate circumstance for
the city and its business interests that
this subject has become clouded from
the pubic understanding by inconsider-
ate appeals to popular prejudice The
whole subject is quite easy of compre-
hension. Approached from the stand
point of the real welfare OF the COM
munity there is no difficulty whatever in
seeing that, so far from involving any
sacrifice of the public interest, the adop-
ton of the pending ordinance will result
In valuable addition to existing means
Of handling our local railroad traffic,
without in any way injuriously affect
Ing our facilities for water transporta-
ton, and without imposing any cost on
the city,
The land which we have been asked to
regard regard, as the subject of a "levee. grab
was granted to the city for levee pur-
posea s The eity's rights in that land are
confined to its use for levee purposes. It
Is within the area occupied by the present
union depot. 1t is available for the seri-
Gus enhancement of our local shipping
facilities. 1t has not been used for pur-
poses of steamboat navigation for thirty
years, and it will never be needed for
any such use. On the contrary it is need
ed and badly needed for the Improvement
and extension of our means for handling
railroad shipping in and out of this city.
We cannot advantageously use 1t for
any other purpose. The issue before the
public is whether we will apply it to the
use through which alone it can be made
a source Of benefit to the community.
There are now nine tracks in use at
the union depot. BY making the land
in dispute available for trackage to the
river, extending from Slbley to Broad
way, an addition of six tracks can be
made. That, naturally, will be of the
highest moment to the citys carrying
commerce. This is what the depot con-
Germ desires to have done at its expense
and this it is which the city, If wise
counsels are to prevail, will be glad to
cooperate in the doing of. The COM
promise agreed upon and embodied in the
proposed ordinance involves the doing of
this. 1t goes further. 1t enlarges the
area in front of the union depot by the
condemnation of a lot owned by the
depot concern fronting on Sibley street
fifty feet and extending back $50 feet, so
that the congestion of traffic which dur
ing the business seasons is so frequent
at that point will be thereafter prevented
by the great increase of space allowed
for handling the merchandise which is
brought to that point for shipment In
addition to all this, it is proposed to ex-
tend and perfect the levee facilities now
existing from Sibley street to the Great
Western railway bridge spanning the
river, SO as to bring it on a level with
the space utilized by the increased track
age effected within the depot.
With these substantial benefits coming
to the community and its business in
terests, without involving the sacrifice
oe any right, privilege or easement now
enjoyed by the public which possesses
Sny substantial value, it is incompre-
hensible why any intelligent person
should hesitate in promoting the adop-
ton of the plan of settlement agreed en-.
Of couse the objection is made that the
Land contemplated to be used to lay the
additional tracks on should be reserved
for Ievee purposes. The objection is
without merit. All the possible needs OF
this city for the handling of steamboat
commerce are amply provided for under
The proposed settlement, as already
pointed out
The intent of those who made the
grant of tie land in question to the city
Is fulfilled by dcvoting that land to the
Purposes of railroad terminus. Thirty
O. forty years ago We were disposed to
f.lieye that tho future of the city rested
Oh the development OF the river steam
t3et uafic The locomotive has, how
S7or, in the interval completely sup
p:si.ted TIE steamboat. which is now but
asspliaor factcr in our commercial life.
The railway depot has taken the place