The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-26

At a well-attended meeting of the
council committees on railroads and on
roads and bridges, at which the citi-
zens and all business branches were rep
resented, the embarrassing problem re-
ceived serious consideration yesterday
afternoon. There was but one senti-
ment, namely, that the crossings would
have. to 90. The Milwaukee railroad,
which has more such crossings than any
abolishing two of the worst crossings
at once. F. w. Root, representing the
Milwaukee, said that plans were al
ready in preparation for bridges across
the tracks at Oak street Sc and at
Cedar and Franklin avenues, and that
they would be laid before the council
tomorrow night.
Business men and interested citizens
urged the. aldermen to quick and de-
thru Wallace G.. Nye, offered co-opera-
ton. - :
j. F. McCaull, representing the Cham
Der of Commerce, presented a petition
signed by members. It contained POP
names. He also presented twenty-five
other petitions signed by residents.
The chamber, he said, had no plan to
offer, but wanted the grade crossings
done away with. - a.
w. NJ. Regan, representing the Retail
Merchants associs zion, urged prompt
action, offering the cooperation OF
every member. F. p. Hobbs and
east Minneapolis Business Mems asso-
citation, said the future of that section
depended on it's manufacturing inter,
ests If the crossing problem is solved
now, it will save the city and the rail
roads millions Of dollars. Unless the
dangerous crossings are eliminated,
property will decrease in value. J.. r.
Ware, president of the East Side Bust
ness Men 8 association, and William
Simms, president Of the University Ave
nue. Business Men 8 = association, ad-
vanced similar views.
Rev. E. P. Savage, prominent IN the
agitation in Southeast Minneapolis
struck a popular chord when he pro
posed that the Hastings & Dakota
tracks be abolished and the Milwaukee
road use the Minneapolis & st. Louis
tracks from Hopkins to Minneapolis
This would make all roads coming IN
from the west and South use these
tracks, and he further proposed that al
roads entering from. Southeast Mime
apolis use the Milwaukee tracks on the
East Side. 49,,
This plan seemed popular both with
the committeeman and others, but City
Engineer Andrew Rinker said it was
| proposed ten years ago and all the
roads opposed it bitterly. Mr.. Rinke1
suggested that within a certain. time
ali the roads be REQUIRED to raise. o.
lower their tracks, the Typographical
conditions to decide. which. The cost
for bridging all crossings would b'
| about $3,000,000. There are 379 cross
| ings in all and sixty-four are bridged..
Mr.. Nye suggested that the commit
! tee look over the plans used by Worces
| ter, Mass. That city is situated mucl
like Minneapolis. He also suggested
that a commission be appointed to have
charge of the work.
| Mayor Jones, after briefly urging dis
| patch, yielded to F. w. Root, attorney
for the Milwaukee road, who told Q:
the offer of his corporation. He woul(
give no details, but said that the tota
cost Of the structures proposed by tn
Milwaukee road for the Oak street am
Cedar avenue crossings would be nearl,
100000. ....
Alderman Holmes moved that al
roads entering the city be asked t.
submit plans for abohshing their cross
ings. This was carried and the com
mittee adjourned to meet in two weeks