The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-04-29

AS a special order Of business the
Chamber of Commerce yesterday cOnsld
cred the levee question and devoted most
of the session to a discussion of that
topic, deciding finally to support the ST.
Paul & Wabasha Packet company in it's
efforts to secure permission of the council
to erect a small warehouse and office
building on the levee. The matter came
up in the form of a report of the COM
mittee on municipal affairs, upon the
application OF the st. Paul & Wabasha
Packet company to the city council. The
essential terms of the proposition sub
mitted by the packet company are as fol-
lows: The company asks for leave to
erect a building 30 feet square, to be To-
Gated 191 feet west of the Diamond 10
warehouse, $50 feet east of the west end
of the Ievee, 20 feet back from the water
front, 20 feet west of the stone steps at
Jackson street, feet west of the eX-
tended line of Jackson street, and rs feet
south of the railroad tracks.
Thus it would be possible, it was pointed
out in the application, for teams to drive
on all sides of the warehouse and for the
levee in front of the building to be used
by the public. The company agreed to
erect the building at its own expense and
make provision for a waiting room 12X1l
feet four steamboat offices 6XS feet and a
freight room 1SX30 feet. The waiting room
it was proposed should be open to all
who wished to make proper use of it
and three of the four offices rented, and
one-half Of the rental turned over to the
city. The term for which the privilege
was asked is five years and at the end
of that time the company will sell the
building to the city with proper allow
ance for the use and age.
The report of the committee which was
printed in T h G l oh of last Tuesday,
favored the application of the company
in a general way. recommending certain
restrictions as to the use of the levee.
In effect, this report advised that the
rights and privileges heretofore enjoyed
by the Diamond 10 line be not interfered
with; that no other building be allowed
upon the levee between Jackson and Sib-
ley streets; and that the Bethel boat De
removed to some point above the Chicago
& Great Western railway bridge during
the season Of navigation.
Thomas Cochran, who was a member
of the committee, argued in favor of the
application. He thought the room on the
levee was ample for all purposes and
should be so utilized as to do the most
good.
w. P. Murray contended that there was
no need of building additional warehouses
on the levee. The Diamond 10 company
had warehouses enough to accommodate
all freight shipped by boat and should
grant the necessary privileges to all boats,
as had been agreed when it was granted
its present rights on the levee. Harry
Clark, of the Diamond 10 line, said that
his company did grant warehouse privi-
leges to all boats alike and that as far
as he knew no boat had ever been inter-
fered with in that respect.
George H. Hazard, speaking on be-
half Of the steamer Lora, opposed the
report. The levee, he argued, should be
regarded as a public gateway to the city
and fitted up for the general use, not
given away by the city piecemeal. The
Diamond 10 warehouse, he said, was
right on the river front and should be
moved back at least twelve feet to allow
all boats clear space-for landing. A
J. Gray appeared in behalf of the packet
company and presented the arguments
outlined in the application.
The recommendations contained in the