The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-05-06
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Continues From Page 1.
streets, so that the union depot could
be built close TO the tracks. with an open
roadway In the rear which would take
the place of Sixth South street.
In addition TO this. 1t was proposed
that the railroads be allowed TO build
the depot so that its center would cover
the end of Third West street. As this
street does not cross the tracks at the
point selected for the station, il was ar
Sued that the arrangement would not in
any way block traffic.
Plan Meets with Opposition.
But the plans of the railroad officials
met with opposition. There was a long
and bitter fight Those who favored
the Third West street site claimed that
those who objected to it were influenced
by the fear that the removal of the dCpOts
from Academy avenue would impair the
value OF their real estate along that
thOrouehfare. Opponents of the Third
West street site maintained that their
fight was caused by sOlicitude for the
comfort of the persons who used the rail-
roads, and particularly the students at
the Brigham Young university COnspic-
uOus among these was Uncle" Jesse
knight, the Provo millionaire.
Joseph f. Smith, president of the Nor
mon church, Senator Reed Smoot and
others were drawn into the contest and
the situation became alarming. as the
wrangle threatened to destroy friendships
begun in boyhoOd and TO estrange rela-
tives and fellow church members.
The row was called by some a contest
for prestige between the East side" and
the West side of Provo. but when the
influential East side" snapped up the
federal building and the new lfbarry, the
West side champions asserted that
there was something more formidable IN
the situation than a struggle between III
val parts Of a thriving little city.
The West side" people bitterly resented
the interference in the affairs of Provo
nf M
who, they claimed. did not understand
the city's needs. That accounts for the
refusal in some quarters to acquiesce IN
the wishes of several champions who sp-
reared in behalf of the East side ele-
ment, although these unexpected adVo-
Gates of the selection of the Academy
street depot site are usually hardened to
with the utmost Difference.
President Smith Objects.
Joseph F. Smith. president of the Nor
mon church, signed two protests against
the building of the union depot at Third
West street. AS he lives in Salt Lake. his
protests were based upon his connection
with Provo institutions. One was signed
as director of the u. c. NJ /. and the
other as a member of the board of trus-
tees OF the Brigham Young university.
Apostle John Henry Smith also sent in
protest.
This example was followed by the presi-
dency of the Utah stake, in protest
signed by David John. president and JO-
seph K. Keller and l.. HOlbrook, his cOun-
sellers.
Governor John c. Cutler also took a
hand against the West side" and in be-
half Of the East side"
Protests against the Third West street
site also poured in from outside towns.
This was deeply resented by the advocates
of the site who insisted that other places
had no right to NEEDLE with the affairs
of Provo or attempt TO have a say in the
selection of the location. of the union de-
pot
But regardless of this the protests con-
finued to come in. SpringVille sent a pro-
test with l05 signatures; Salem one with
a names attached: and Spanish Fork an
other with rs names. There were others
from American Fork, 81 names; Lehl, a
names: and Payson, 96 names.
But that was not all. The students or
Brigham Young university sent in bulky
package. II was a protest, TO which
about 500 names weer signed.
In most of these protests it was main
tanned that the Academy avenue depot
site had been in use for thirty-five years
and was convenient to the court house,
the tabernacle. the Brigham Young uni
versity. the postoffice. the fair grounds
and the business district
AS the fight went on and il began to
look as though the West side" would
opposition, the rumor was circulated that
il the Provo city council which had been
asked by the Rio Grande railroad for de-