The Cairo bulletin., 1906-03-17
ULTIMATUM BY PRES. SMITH
or THE CAIRO G THEBES r. r.
Company Must Have Right of Way to Washington
Avenue or VIII Build Depot In
Drainage District
WALNUT STREET WILL NOT DO

I Hon Reed Green asked permission
to say something as a citizen, not rep
resent ng any person or corporation
or intere is. Although member o
tine board of directors of the Cairc
Public Library, he had no authority t,
peak even for them. He wanted to Sc,
al improvements encouraged. He hat
|always been a citizen Of Cairo an.
always expected to be.
/ The talk had been as though only
/ The two railroad companies We're con
cerned, but there was a third parry
ito be considered--the public We
must moi lose light Of their interests
| II two months ago any one had sng
ges.ed that a railroad company would
seek to cross Walnut street with
ight tracks and erect a freight depot
next to the Public Library, W III street
railway tracks on Washington avenue,
he would have been laughed at, and
yet all this WIS now ked TO be done
An impossible barrier was to be
placed across one of the only two
streets the city had leading lengthws
of the city, separating the lower pot
ion Of the city from the school and
residence porasn. ana pgacticaliy
making the street usele as a thor
ughfare. With eight tracks across
be street, no matter how well pro
ected by gates or flag men, the street
you'd be useless and dangerous for
irving and for pedestrians, especially
chool children The proposition 70
rect depcts on Washington avenue
vas equally Objectionable. The de-
OTIS would be a meeting place for
oafors. Il would be like the Illinois
'Cntral depot where disgraceful
scenes were frequent in spite Of the
"fforts Of special officers. There would
be the noise and filth which Away
were heard and seen about freight de
pots all almost at the doors of the
Public Library Another object on
would be the street car tracks on
Washing avenue, the only street clear
for driving purposes from Eight stree
no. He felt the people did not want
these changes made till they would
favor all reasonable aid and en-
to the company He
thought enough would be done for the
if ii were given a right OF
way over the cross streets to Walnut
10 ask more than that was too much
Attorney Leek said he had opposed
the company's application for right-of
way over the levee. because be then f.
thought it was merely a scheme to get /
something for nothing with view Il
'peculation. He did not believe they /.
Intended 10 construct a railroad. he I
new better now. He ridiculed the I
statement that Walnut was now an /
'peu street, with its street car track /
'unning up the middle. There was not
IN imposan city In the country
which did not have railroad depots in
Is center The public ought 20 sub
nit to some Inconvenience to get so
Important a project which meont so
much f-r the material and CONNER {
.ial Development Of tie city. and no
riding objections should be allowed /
o stand in its way. We know the re-
ult cf opposing such enterprises. The
Illinois Central company had been
esisied to years past and had bu u
ip Mounds: and another railroad. be
'ause the bridge had been turned |
iorthward, had left Cairo with itr
reight yards in order to have easier
,ccess to the bridge. Alderman Nen I
lere interrupted 10 ask Mr. Leell Il /
'c was employed by the Cairo &
7hebcs railroad. Mr.. L.eek said he was
resent at this meeting merely as a
i' zen; that he represented the con-
'9ny in sertain matters at court for
which he was paid. but was not in
my way representing II here. He I
wanted the read 10 come into Cairo I
nd not stop three miles above the
ity. The council should not permit
mall matters to turn an important ea-
ernrise away from the city.
Mr. Green said the story that the
liiuois Central company was moved
r bi ID uD Mounds by the refusal . /.
ei ii have access 10 small bit Of (.
round in The upper part # the city
ras ridiculous in view Of The extensive (,
ards they had established aud need
j for their bridge business. The story
.ad been used for political purposes /
md had been effective. but there was
10 merit nj IT,
Judge Dewey eaid he represented