Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-17
VACATE FOR GREAT WESTERN
Ordinance to Surrender Streets osn,s "
Before City OsunciL
PROVISION IN INTERESTS OF PUslIc
Railway May object to some of the
stipuIatiOns Demanded by Cit-
transformations h "a
Are Sought.


Among important matters slated for ac-
tion at the meeting Of the city council to-
night is the ordinance vacating certain
streets and avenues in the interest OF the
Great Western railroad. This ordinance
is Of more than ordinary Importance TO the
citizens of Council Bluffs, as in It will be
incorporated the provisions requiring the
railroad to maintain lights and 1agmen
at grade crossings In the city. These pro-
visions were not incorporated in the right
of-way ordinance. at the suggestion Of City
Solicitor wadsworth, who gave 1t as his
opinion that the vacation ordinance, being
a contract betwee the city and the rail-
road. was the proper measure in which they
should appear.
The ordinance, as originally submitted to
the aldermen by the railroad, provided for
the vacation of those parts of Eighth,
Ninth and Tenth streets between the south
line OF Ninth avenue and the north line
of Tenth avenue. The property lying be-
tween the south line Of Ninth avenue and
the north line Of Tenth avenue for a dis
lance Of several blocks has been acquired
by the Great Western. Ninth street ls not
an open thoroughfare, having about a year
ago been closed by the vacation OF one
block in the interest OF the Rock Island
railroad when erecting its new roundhouse.
1t is thought that the council will raise
no objection to vacating this portion OF
Ninth street as requested by the Great
Western. Tenth street is also not a thor
oughfare, as 1t runs into the yards of the
Rock Island and has never been opened
through them. There will be no opposi-
ton, as far as is known, to vacating the
portion OF this street as asked by the Great
Western.
south Eighth Street Is Different.
South Eighth street, however, presents
an entirely different proposition and 1t Is
not believed that the city council will con-
sent to the vacation of any portion Of this
street. Eighth street is the only thorough
fare running from the north to the south
limits of the city, and 1t is said that the
people would never consent to this being
closed between Ninth and Tenth avenues
II is understood that the Great Western
has abandoned all idea of securing the
vacation of this street and that no effort
will be made to induce the city council to
even consider this proposition tonight.
The ordinance to be considered tonight
also provides for the vacation Of Fifteenth
and Fourteenth avenues from the west line
OF Third street to the east line of the right
of-way of the Wabash Railroad company.
AS the Great Western has secured all OF
the AUDITING property on both sides of these
avenues In the blocks named. II 10 not
thought that there will be any opposition to
the vacations requested. The purpose OF the
vacation is to provide a location for the
~roundhouse, coal chutes and other terminal
buildings of the railroad.
Extension of Freight Depot.
1t is said that the question Of granting
the Great Western the privilege OF extend
ing it's freight depot ten feet on Ninth
avenue. which was refused at the time Of
the passage OF the right-of-way ordinance,
will be brought up again tonight and that
there is a possibility Of II being granted
and incorporated in the vacation ordinance.
The Great Western is very anxious to Sc
cure this concession. as It will enable 1t to
construct two main tracks south Of It's
freight depot, whereas without this ten
feet 1t would only be able to PIT in one
track.
President Colt OF the Mason City & Fort
Dodge railroad, when in the city last week,
offered, II granted this concession, to pave
the entire Of Ninth avenue between Sixth
and Seventh streets, which would mean an
outlay OF over s., 900. 1t is said that the
property owners on the north side OF the
avenue are opposed to the railroad being
given the ten feet and are not anxious that
the street be paved. They claim that the
paving would not benefit them any. as the
thoroughfare once the freight depot Il
built will be practically monopolized by the
railroad. 1t was said yesterday that the
aldermen are about evenly divided now or
the proposition to give the railroad this ter
feet, but that Mayor Jennings Is u~nalter-
ably opposed to II.