The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-11-17
RAILROAD WINS
FIGHT. WITH
WOMEN
,CDRTH COAST ATTORNEY
LAYS lDE AVENUE TROUBLE
ON THEM, AND COUNCIL
COMES TO HIS RESCUE.

Ide avenue property owners, who
have made good fight against the
North Coast railroad attempts to
confiscate their property, were
practically beaten last night, SO far
as the council Is concerned, at a
meeting of the committee of the
whole.
The North Coast, by it's presi-
dent, asked permission to open a
new. street so feet wide, 60 feet
north of Ide avenue, to grade and
curb and sidewalk it with non
combustible material. Property
owners had protested against this,
as it left their property valueless
and meant eventual closing of Ide
avenue SO cleverly was the
scheme worked that several Ide
avenue property owners sat there
in blissful ignorance after their
fate was sealed, apparently.
Attorney Danson, following read
ing of numerous and voluminous
protests, circumstances and objec-
tions from property owners, and a
petition to the council signed by
several hundred northside property
owners favoring the North Coast,
exhibited map showing the
change of street. He clinched his
arguments by referring to the hor-
rible automobile plunge down the
steep Ide avenue embankment
which killed Miss Mary Nichols.
He said that on the adoption of
the North Coast avenue such dan
gers would be eliminated.
'"0f course, the North Coast is
in no hurry to do this he said,
'but the property owners have
earnestly petitioned that the street
be fixed up and they be given an
outlet to town. This is the North
Coast desire: we want to give the
people an outlet for this winter.
We do not ask the vacation of Ide
avenue at this time. Eventually
our road will need it, This outlet
will do until we get things in
shape to apply for franchise. We
are given no rights. l submit this
ought not to- be delayed You all
realize it is big task for rail-
road to enter almost the heart of
the city. 1t takes time, money,
patience and hard work. BY grant
ing our request the city loses moth
ing and gains much
Mr.. Danson, like Adam, then laid
1t on the woman, two of them
Mrs. w. H. Forney and Mrs. Mary
O'Neil, with making oxhorbitant
demands on the rilroad. These two
ladies are trying to save their
homes. Besides these ladies', Attor-
ney Danson said that only two
other property owners face Ide
avenue, and these were Dan Griffin
and Ben Bergen. Walter Merry
weather, right of way agent for the
company, stated that papers in
condemnation were drawn against
Griffin and Bergen, and action
would soon be instituted.
George Nixon, one of the protest
ing property owners, followed Mr.
Danson and declared that his talk
was just so much "hot air" and
the room had been filled with it.
He demanded that the council
force the railroad to put its verbal
promises in writing. They pro-
pose merely to give one street for
another" he said. Their propo-
sition is not binding now, but it
will be. There will also be more
dangers there on account of the
railroad tracks. We already have
the Great Northern tracks to con-
tend with. Mr.. Danson does not
go into detail of what the city
must give nj return"
Mr.. Danson replied: "You recall
that some weeks ago the question
of the city's liability was pro-
pounded to the corporation coun-
sci, who was asked as to whether
or not granting us permission to
open the proposed street would be
vacating Ide avenue. He said it
would not The council can pass
a resolution allowing us to open
our street without binding the city
to vacation"
Councilman Dalke said that he
felt 1t was not proper at this time
to vacate Ide avenue, and he be-
lieyed that the railroad proposition
was equivocal to vacation. Council
man Mohr favored the elimination
Of the mention of Ide avenue IN
the resolution. Danson said he
would agree to that.
u. A. Nordquist declared that Ide
property owners wanted to keep
their avenue and asked that the
railroad be made to do Its duty and
grade and sidewalk the street.
Z A motion by Councilman Lam
bert that the corporation counsel
be instructed to word a resolution
granting the North Coast permits
sion TO open a new street and not