The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1902-04-18

at time than the law allows. Hlgl
street crossing is thorn in thei
flesh, and this entire palatial depo
proposition is Matched up just to ge
rid Of that thorn and stick it in tn
flesh of the people. Instead of un
coupling their cars to let vehicles an(
pedestrians pass, they want to blockad,
the way and compel the public to g
two blocks, to South Main street, il
order to get out Of Columbia or into
Columbia. The proposition is prepos-
ferrous. In order that they may have
| the privilege of closing and the con
venience of using all these crossings
they call upon the taxpayers of Co
lumbia to open new streets and expend
$40, 600. 1t would have been altogether
more reasonable and nothing more than
! right for the railroad to have said, we
need more yard room, we need the us
of these street crossings, we are anxious
to avoid the danger and expense at
tending them. and If you people of
Columbia will consent to their being
closed, we will build all the new
streets necessary, and erect you a
handsome new depot. and give you
S10 600 to pay on your present long
standing railroad debt, or to build you
d sewer when convenient.
do not know, said the speaker,
what that sewer clause means. The
contract says that the city shall build
it, whenever it becomes convenient.
Whether it means whenever convenient
to the city to build it, or whenever
convenient to the railroad company
to have it built But it is clear upon
one point, and that is that some time
or other it is to be built, and the city
is to build it, And il that convent
ent" clause means anything, it means
in reasonable time, and the courts
would doubtless construe it SO. Now
in reasonable time, say three years
from now, l imagine l can hear the
bland Mr.. President of the railroad
company, as he stands before the
Board of Mayor and Aldermenof Co
lumbla say, have waited one, two,
three years upon your convenience
Is it ever going to be convenient
for you to build that sewer Do you
think put that clause in there for
want that sewer; need it
bad and must have it. and you have
contracted to build 1t. 1t you do not
find it convenient to build it soon,
will ask the courts to compel you.
And this sewer, said the speaker,
cannot empty into the first sinkhole
you come to, or the first branch or
lrain but must be covered and car
led to the river; and the cost Of that
should be considered before this con-
ract is signed.
Another feature of this clause, which
vas not touched upon by Mr.. Smiser,
,ut which we take the opportunity
If adding. Suppose the new depot
.losets should become nuisance for
he lack of sewerage suppose they
hould be come menace to the health
md comfort of the neighborhood. And
oppose the city health officer should
Undertake to abate them, and the rail-
Dad should say. it will not be ICON
'enient" for us to abate this nuisance,
indeed it will practically be impossible
or us to do 80, until it is convenient
or YOU to build us sewer. What
ould the city say or dor Without
hat clause the city could compel the
abroad. at whatever cost or expense,
0 find some way out Of the difficulty; ,
ut with that clause in the contract
he burden Of solving the difficulty
nd it is a serious difficulty-w ould be
pom the people.
The adroit wording Of that clause,
lyly, cunningly placing all RESPONSE .
ilities, liabilities and burdens upon
ne people, characterizes the whole in /