The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-15
WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK
DUTY Of the Hour.

fairs in Minneapolis in Z 861 could have
added to the splendid abilities that they
did possess, the gift of looking into the
future, even to the close of the century, if
no farther, how differently would they
| have planned our city,
10 speak OF only a few
what city ever had given to 1t such
opportunity to have beautiful park in
It's very center, surrounded by noble
| stream, a place where the crowded popu-
lation could go from almost any part Of
1t in few minutes, like Nicollet island?
II the whole of it had not been kept for a
park, a part OF it at least might have been
devoted to the city hall, the public library
and similar places of general resort. How
the generation of today and those who are
to come would have blessed our city faith
ers at the time when $4,000 would have
purchased 1t for such purposes. But they
| thought the outlay was too great
But, while we feel like Gliding them
for their short-sightedness and parsimony
let us take care that we are not guilty Of
similar mistaken economy in the pres
emit. '..- ...,..~t : :"..s.
The recent agitation concerning grade
crossings has. directed the attention of the
people to the relation of the railroads to
the safety Of life and the welfare Of our
city. While it Is to the railroads more
than to any other single agency, that we
owe our growth, we must not forget the
|
guarded they will become such a menace
to the lives of our citizens as to become
a serious drawback to our continued
growth.
| Now, while the whole subject is before
the council, and the community If it is
possible to have the relation Of the rail-
roads to the streets Of the city so adjusted
as to eliminate forever the dangerous and
deadly grade crossings, as far as it is pos
s1ble, 1t is certainly "a contamination
most devoutly to be wished for" An out
lay Of money that may seem as large to
the inhabitants of our city OF a quarter
Of a million, as $4,000, did to the village
4 bring to the city Of the future far richer
return in the safety and welfare of the
people than the purchase of Nicollet island
would have been to us now.
/ It would be difficult to overestimate tho
worth. to4our city of that splendid rail-
way system, the Chicago, Milwaukee &,
st. Paul. And yet, an enlightened view of
the far-reaching policy that should gov
ern us at the present time would prompt
us to a most earnest effort to induce that
road to- remove it's Hastings & Dakota
Il tracks that cross the city now at Twenty
ninth street entirely This deadly menace
to the safety Of thousands of our citizens
should not exist. I doubt not that the
able managers of that read could find a
way to enter the city that would be just
as serviceable to them, and to the public,
as by the present line at Twenty ninth
street.
) One way that has been suggested is by
; way Of the Minneapolis & st. Louis line;
still another, by a new line running from
the vicinity Of Hopkins TO the line of the
Iowa e. Minnesota division near Fort
Smelling, In addition to, this,S the Missis-
slppi should be bridged somewhere be-
tween Fort Smelling and the present Mil
, waukee Short Line bridge, and the Iowa
& Minnesota division and the Hastings G.
Dakota should come in on that, connecting
l with the present line that runs from the
/ vicinity of the Minnesota Transfer to
the Great Northern tracks, and the main
line trains also should use that line into
the city. The Northern Pacific tracks
also should be brought IN along the line
Of the Great NoFtherns, This change alone
l would free our city sfeefn more than 100
grade crossings 's'.s '"1 sa~7's'.s"t -. - s
Inevitably it would contribute in most
important way to that greatly to be de-
sired thing, a union depot, Of fitting pro-
= portion. But I hear Immediately lot Of
= persons exclaim. ooh! that would cost
! millions of dollars! And then what about
the important industries located on the
line of the Milwaukee road in South Min
neapolis?" Well, these matters have to
l be considered, and are worthy Of it.
I First, as to the industries: Fortunately,
| those upon the line of the Hastings &
:, Dakota, between South Minneapolis and
Lake Calhoun, are not SO valuable that
| the cost Of providing for them would be
very great. But those on the main line
and the Iowa & Minnesota division have
l. much more invested in them. But, again.
J fortunately, believe, that the amount in
vested west Of Cedar avenue is not so
great that it could not be provided for by
an outlay of less than that which it would
| ha to al oforo to
tracks, The large Industries east of Co.
dar avenue could be served if enough Of
the present line for switching purposes
should be retained. 1t must be remem-
bered that it will cost the road a large
amount Of money to elevate it's tracks
according to the city engineer, about
: $1,S00,000. And this does not include the
cost Of damage to adjoining property
which would also be large amount. Be-
sides this, the city would also have some
large bills to pay. '..
But great as this outlay may seem, we
should remember that we are now in tho
situation where we cannot escape, and
something must be done.
It certainly Is most desirable that in the
approaching conference between the rep
Iresentatives Of the railroads and the city
, council, such plans should be considered
as will contribute most to the welfare of
the largest number of the people, both
| llOW dlu Ill LIe future. Wnen the repre-
Sentatives Of the railroads come to re-
! gard the saving to them in time in en-
, tering the city, in expense on account of
the elevation of the tracks, and the build
ing Of bridges, and damages to adjoining
property to say nothing of the cost Of
life and limb now constantly impending
over them, it would seem that they will be
ready to give the subject most earnest
consideration; and if plans can be adopted
- which will result in removing our rail-
road lines from the crowded thorofares
) of the city destined to be still more
crowded), and bringing them into the city
together along the river bank. where they
will be forever removed from the necessity
of grade crossings, 1t will be an accom-
plishment worthy of the endeavor, and
worthy Of the cost, even tho it may be
: large. e. P. Savage.
TWO BAD BOYS
yI