The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-01-13
Declares Railroad Is Merely
Willing to Contribute To.
wards Cost of Approach
to Public Baths, Not Cross
ing the Company's Tracks
--Omaha's Counsel An
sWers Health Commits
sioner Ohage.

the matter nave been wrongly inter-
preted.
Judge Wilson denies positively ever
binding his company to pay money
toward such an approach as the one
DR.. Ohage has mapped out and says
his conference with DR.. Ohage, during
which certain money offer was made,
was had in the presence of a member
of the park board, Commissioner Alb
erie. He also thinks his talk to the
park board when the condemnation
proceedings were under consideration
will substantiate his position.
DR.. Ohage wrote Judge Wilson ex,k-
ing for a deposit of the $4,000. Judge
Wilson replied to that communication
| and has also sent the following ex-
| planatory letter to The Globe:
Publisher ST. Paul G O b e-Sir:
inclose you copy of letter addressed by
me to DR.. Ohage, referred to in your issue
In view of the fact that some things
have been published in some of the jour
mails Of this city misstating the attitude
properly may-that that letter be pub
liShed in full.
DIR. Ohage, having requested an inter
view with me, consented thereto, but
requested that his friend, Mr.. Daniel Alb
erie, should be present | also requested
! Mr.. Pierce Butler, my assistant to be
| Ohage or Mr.. Aberle, he remained away.
What was said, and all that was said
n 6feTe (at my my ofIice) was IN the presence
| in the letter which l ask you to publish.
AT the meeting of the park board, on
the evening of the same day, a dozen OF
more persons were present, and I VEN
ture to assert that there was no miSap-
| prehension on the part of any person
there said, and what there said is stated
particularly in the letter which l ask you
to publish Thomas WILSON,
Omahas Letter to DR.. ohaqe.
"Justus Ohage, NJ: D., Commissioner Of
leave to acknowledge receipt of your let
ter of the 9Th inst, in which you say:
The park board has condemned the tri-
your main track along the bank of the
river for the approach to the public baths.
Ths peace offer made by your road of
$4,000 toward this approach is greatly
appreciated by the people and myself =
1 beg of you to deposit this s., SOC
with some bank in this city subject to my
Il assume you have reference to what
l recently said to you in the presence
Of your friend. Mr.. Daniel Aberle, in my
office, and to the park board at it's ses-
sion on the evening of the same day (you
and Mr.. Aberle being presently, these be
ing the only times believe, at which 1
have said anything to you or in your
presence, or to any board at any public
meeting about this company contributing
Whatever
baths.
eat that conference in my office, what
you asked, and all that you asked, was
Cd that the Gedney track, so-called be
taken up; CD that gates be put in where
the track crosses the entrance to the pub
lie baths, and go that this company Should
erect fence on the margin Of the public
park which you proposed or expected to
have laid out.
IT then said to you that the city council
had authorized the laying of the Gedney
track, and, other interests being involved
was quite sure this company would not
take it up; that 1 would then say-as the
general manager of this company had be-
fore said-that if the city council should
so decide, gates would be put in at that
crossing. to which you said: The city
was for the city council and for them
only, to say how that crossing should be
safeguarded. 1 further said that although
to erect a fence it would not let that
stand in the way of an arntcable arrange
ment; that this company especially de-
sired friendly relations with the city and
with you personally. What you were most
earnest about was the removal of the
Gedney track, which / repeated 1 did not
believe this company would take up.
then said to you:
" DIR. Ohage, the positive order of the !
general manager of this company is that |
no train shall pass over that crossing to
the public baths until the conductor first |
passes over it to see that it ris clear, |
and then signals the train to cross which |
this company believes to be the best way
of safeguarding the crossing; that the |
officers of this company are anxious not |
only to make the approach to the baths |
entirely safe but to remove any appre- |
hension as to it's safety; that, as reported |
In the newspapers. the city engineer es-
tim2.tes the cost of a substantial plank |
walk sixteen feet wide, between the |
track of this company and the channel Of |
the river. from the Wabasha street bridge |
and 5000; that that would give the most |
convenient access to the baths for per- |
sons on both sides of the river without |
crossing any track, and would. Of course, |
remove any apprehension of danger; that |
while l thought the city should not re- |
quire this company to do So l would |
if that plan was adopted this company |
would pay one-half the cost, not exceeding |
$4,000
DR.. ohage'e Terse Answer
your sole answer to that proposition |
was: Cattle chute
This is, in substance, what was said, !
about that matter. Except for that cross |
ing, there was not a word said at that |
conference about this company contrib |
uting one dollar.
THAT was late in the afternoon, and |
On the evening of the same day the park |
and may others were present, and to that |
board 1 stated that you and 1 had that !
afternoon had conference, and repeated |
what passed between us as nearly as |
could recollect, and substantially as above |
stated
Il called their attention to the alleged |
expense Of that plank walk between the |
bridge and Harriet island, and added that |
this company, being DESTROYS not only to |
make the approach to the baths safe but |
to remove any question about it's safety |
/ would recommend that it contribute one
half the expense Of constructing that ap- |
proach, not exceeding $4,000; that that |
would remove any possible question of |
danger and also furnish convenient ac- |
cess to the baths for persons living on /
ca ch side of the river.
There was not a word said at either /
meeting about this company contributing |
one dollar toward the so-called park, or /
any approach to the baths through that |
so-called park.
while 1 believe the crossing, as It |
has been safeguarded, is safe 1 well un- |
derstand that SO long as it is over the |
railroad tracks at grade there would be |
at least apprehension of danger, especial
~ on the part Of parents whose small |
children frequent the baths, and to re- |
move that apprehension by securing an |
approach crossing no track and giving |
the most convenient access to persons on |
each side of the river that offer on behalf I
Of this company was made. But an ap- |
proach through that proposed or so Gale - !
park would be much more dangerous than |
any other that has been suggested. 1t |
would not only make necessary crossing /
of the track at grade, but at or close to |
switch, the most dangerous place at which |
g. track can be crossed. OF course, this /
company could not contribute TO such
Tl,,f I hoh1 ~ "a