The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-04-29
DR.. ohage Says He Will Re-
sign From the Health
COmmissionerShip
SPUR TRACK IS BUILT.
Cause of Trouble Has Been En-
croachments of Railroads on
West Side-Latest Track
Finished Yesterday.

! Tomorrow at 10 o'clock should see Dr
| Ohage's resignation as health commits
sioner in the hands of Mayor Smith.
| The doctors intentions, unless certain
| things were agreed to, first appeared in
1 T h G | Friday. Yesterday he held
! a conference with Mayor Smith, and at
its close announced that his resignation
would be forthcoming on the date and
| hour named without fail
In a manner the resignation hinges on
| the acceptance by the Commercial club of
| his request for conference this evening
| regarding the Gedney Picking company
| spur track and other railroad encroach-
ments on the fill leading to the baths,
but as this conference has been refused,
for this evening at least, there is little
doubt that DR.. Ohage will carry out his
intentions.
The answer from the Commercial club
was that the conference asked for would
undoubtedly be granted, but owing to
pressure of business it could not be held
this ey ening, the date requested. From
the city development committee of the
club DR.. Ohage received a letter stating
that the members of the committee would
be more than willing to talk over the
question at Issue.
AS to the Gedney spur track, the cause
I of the controversy, it has been put in,
the Omaha's track-layipg crew driving
a
! afternoon. The rails and ties cover the
ground in a rather slipshod manner, the
| job being a hurry-up one, but this condi
| ton OF affairs will be attended to this
morning, when a crew will, be put to
work bringing the track up to grade and
| levelirg it
Asked yesterday as to whether he
would accept DR.. Ohage's resignation,
Mayor Smith was not inclined to talk:
hoy vet
reason to talk on something that may
not happen. The doctor is good Off
cial,'' he said, land l hate to see him
co.
The employees Of the department are
pretty badly worked up over the doc
| tors resignation and are guessing as to
their tenure of office in the event of his
persisting and a new commissioner being
appointed. In the minds of those around
the city hall, DR.. Stone seems to be the
only available man, but it is understood
he does not want the position.
He VIII Issue a Statement.
Health Commissioner Ohage further
announces that he will follow his resig
nation with a letter of explanation and
the causes that compel him to take the
step. He says it will include a history
of the baths, and his single-handcd fight
to protect the island from mercenary
invasion.
There was a decided tremor in the doc
tors voice last night when in answer
to the question, SIS it true you are go
ing to resign the office of health commits
sioner and custodian of the public
baths?" he said. Eyes. I am all though.
I put up the best fight 1 could, but they
had more friends than I did. Yes, my
resignation is ready, and Mayor Smith
will receive it Wednesday morning"
DR.. Ohage's first intention was to re
sign his connection with the public baths
but to do so he later found that he would
have to relinQuish the office Of health
commissioner, as by the terms of the
deed when the island was given to tEo
city by the doctor it was stipulated that
the island should at all times be under
the charge and direction of the health
department.
Il never thought of this said DR..
Ohage yesterday, when [ turned the ISL
and over to the city, but then I dc not
regret the terms that I exacted 1t is an
institution that I am proud Of and l
wanted to see it free from political trick
cry. I sincerely hope my successor, who
ever he is, will be more successful than
L have been. Perhaps the fact of my
| resignation is the best thing I could do
L am getting to be a physical wreck, and
L need rest. The press, Mayor Smith
and many others too numerous to men
ton have stood by me nobly and helped
me in my fight to the best of their abil-
its, but it was impossible TO cope with
, commercial sharks I am not what some
say, sorehead, am simply tired