The Saint Paul globe., 1902-12-24
PARK BOARD FAvoRs HIS RE-
QUEST FOR CONDEMNATION
OF WEST SIDE FILL
SAFE APPROACH TO
PUBLIC BATHS ASSURED
Omaha Railway Is Agreeable Provided
Its Tracks and Future Extension Are
Not Interfered With, and Will Con-
tribute $2,5oo Toward the Expense
-Hatchet Is Buried.
Health Commissioner ohAge win

Health Commissioner Ohage wins.
His request for the condemnation of
the triangular fill on the West side as
a land approach to the baths has been
agreed to, and, in addition, he is to
receive $2,500 from the Omaha railroad
towards its conversion into an ap-
proach.
This was what the board of park
commissioners accomplished last night
and the the amicable manner in which
it was brought about is look
ed upon as a long step toward the
burying of the hatchet and the solu-
ton Of the difficulty which attended
the Harriet island approach.
The meeting last night was attend
ed by representatives of nearly every
interest involved, including the Com
mercial club and the Omaha railroad,
and while. there were a few of them
not in sympathy with DR.. Ohage's
plans they had to give way before the
force of his arguments.
Prefacing the decision of the board
and it's request to the engineering de-
partment for plats of the ground,
which step is preliminary to the regu-
lar condemnation proceedings, Health
Commissioner Ohage made known his
wants and the concessions he was will
ing to make for harmony's sake.
Dr.. Ohage's Concession.
In return for the condemnation of
the triangular fill and aid from the
Omaha road in the shape of $1,000
towards the cost of an approach over
it, he said he was willing to forego the
condemnation of the lots which would
bar the way of the Omaha road in it's
announced traffic agreement with the
Great Western and to omit from the
proceedings the taking of Raspberry
island. He granted this concession to
the Omaha, he said, because he
desired, if possible, to bury the hatchet
and remove the prevailing opinion that
he was an enemy to the commercial in
terests of the West side.
"I have been wrongly censured in
this respect" said the health commits
sioner 81 say plant potatoes where
ever you can, but If there is any room
for flowers put in a few of them, too.
There are a few people who have be-
come imbued with the idea, that this
insignificant, ill-smelling fill is neces-
sary to st. Pauls commercial advance
ment. Why, there is enough of vacant
ground on the west S1Qo TO nOlQ The
entire city of Pittsburg."
Pierce Butler, as the legal represent
tative of the Omaha road, said his
company desired to be understood as
friend of the baths and was willing
to meet DR.. Ohage on any proposition
that would give the safe approach he
was asking for. The condemnation
of the fill, he informed the board, was
perfectly agreeable to his company.
IN %I,s hot In
condemnation proceedings be amended
so as not to interfere with any Of it's
tracks, or curtail the proposed extern
sion of the line to South st. Paul,
which will be made via the Great
Western tracks at a point near Star
key street.
omaha's $500 Proposition.
The proposition to give $2,500 to-
ward the cost of constructing the ap-
proach was made by Judge Wilson at
the last meeting of the board and was
repeated by Mr.. Butler last night.
Judge Wilson's promise to recommend
to the company that it give $4,000 was
based on the scheme of wooden walk
or pile bridge on the outside of the
tracks, and Mr.. Butler SO informed
>the members, but he did not say that
it would be insisted on. Others, how
ever, declared they had heard Judge
Wilson say he was not partial to any
scheme.
B. H. Schriber and A. K Pruden,
representing the Commercial club,
spoke briefly against the condemnation
of the fill as curtailing advantages for
manufacturing interests. They wanted
a fill on the outside of the tracks, but
owing to the establishment of the har-
Dor line so close to the rip-rap, this
was shown to be impossible. They
suggested the extension of the harbor
line out into the river short dis
tance, but it did not meet with the ap-
proval of DR.. Ohage.
The Trades and Labor council mad,
representatives present and they spoke
briefly for the condemnation. Mem
bers of the West Side Improvement
association were present, but did not
say anything.
The proceedings last night, while by
no means ending the matter, are be-
lieved to be a long step toward the
Guilty Both sides seemed willing to
make concessions in order that the con-
troversy might be closed and the park
board encouraged them.
DR.. Ohage Is Pleased.
In bringing about the agreement
reached last night Commissioner Dam
iel Aberle was leading factor. In
fact he made personal effort to see
that DR.. Ohage obtained what he has
been long fighting for and that the in
terests. of the other side were not dis
turbed. On his motion the old con-
demnation proceedings were rescinded
and the call for new plans instituted.
Prior to the session he made a per-
sonal canvass among the interests
represented and secured their consent
to the concessions proposed.
DR.. Ohage's intention is to have the
fill raised and terraced, thus giving
an approach to the baths from the
Wabasha street bridge, that will per-
any effort or fatigue. He was greatly
pleased with the proceedings last night
and left remarking, ut is a great VIC
tory"