The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-04-16
KICK ON OMAHA TRACKS,
ASSEMBLYMAN WHEELER WANTS
THOSE ON SPRING STREET
TORN UP
PROPERTY OWNERS OBJECT
1t LIS Claimed That the Manufacture
ing interests Would Suffer Great
Iy If Mi. WheeIer's Ordi-
nance Passes.

Assemblyman Wheeler's ordinance di-
recting the Omaha Railway company to
take up its tracks laid on Spring street,
from st. Peter to Eagle streets, came UP
for an airing before the committee on
streets at it's meeting late yesterday aft
ernoon, and caused considerable discus
sion.
When the franchise was given to the
st. Paul Warehouse and Elevator COM
pany, years ago, to build it's elevator and
warehouse on the south side of Third
street, near st. Peter street. the elevator
company was given the right to build this
piece of track on Spring street. The ele-
Vator, 1t will be remembered, burned
down some years ago, and since that
time, it is claimed, the Omaha has been
using the track for its own traffic. AS
semblyman Wheeler. in introducing the
ordinance, contended that the elevator
company had no right to transfer Its
franchise for the track to the railway
company, and is of the opinion that the
company should get permission from the
council to use the track.
Mr.. Rice of the Minnesota Soap COM
pany, and Mr.. Mcmillan, of the Nc
MILAN Elevator company, appeared be-
fore the committee and asked that they
make a favorable report on the ordinance
Their object for so doing, they said, was
that they wanted to have a wagon roao
built from Eagle street to the lower
levee at Jackson street if 1t could be
done. AS it was at the present time, they
had to haul their loads by way of Hill
street to Third street, which Is a round
about way.
PROPERTY OWNERS PROTEST.
s. e. Day, representing the owners OF
the property abutting Spring street, en-
CT n = n
track taken up. and presented a petition
signed by nearly all of the property own
ers on the street In question protesting
against the passage Of the ordinance. MI
Day contended that the tracks were very
valuable to the manufacturing interests
along this street, and suggested that IL
necessary some arrangement should be
made with the railroad company to give
them permission to use the tracks.
Mr.. ATnes, of the West Publishing COM
pany, was also present, and asked the
committee not to pass the ordinance d.
recting the taking up Of this track on
the ground that 1t was valuable to the
manufacturing interests on the street. He
stated that the one main reason that
induced his company to locate their busd
ness where 1t is at the present time was
the fact that this track ran along Spring
street.
AItS dSSlStdnC corporation attorney stat
ed to the committee that under the fran
chise given the elevator company. they
had no right to transfer their rights to
the same to the railway company, and
that he believed, with Assemblyman
Wheeler, If the railway company was
going to continue to operate these tracks.
1t should get some kind Of permission
to- do So
The. matter was finally referred to a
subcommittee, consisting of Assembly
men Wheeler and Warner and the city
engineer and corporation attorney,vto, IN
yest1gate The committee will most likely
try and come to some agreement with
the railway company.
t The proposition Of making wagon
road from the upper levee to- the. lower
levee was also discussed in connectfo.
with this matter, but the committee
round that in order to make this road
they would have to excavate under the
Wabasha street bridge, and It is Thought
this would cost more money than the
Improvement would benefit those who de-
sire it.