The St. Lucie County tribune. (Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Fla.) 1905-1920, 1909-04-16
F0RT PIERCE
SUCCESSFUL
;v;sion Headquarters of Rail
[oad Permanently Established
MEETING
| s;dps Hearing Reports of Committee
Meeting Discussed Impending Bond
1 FIeotion-To Form Booster Club

The securing by Fort Pierce of per-
mont division headquarters of the
pr;da East Coast railway is an as
vad I fact. This became known last
idav night by the receipt of kilograms
M, ' President A. ID. Penney, of the
tard of Trade. stating that final ar
ncements had been completed IN a
"ference which he had just held with
esident and General Manager }. K.
rrott, in st. Augustine.
The news spread like wild fire over
brt Pierce, and every citizen was
hilant over the result, which means
much to our city, and the return OF
Penney was anxiously awaited
turday evening. when he was be-
iced by interested crowds to gather
fails of the final interview with the
ilway officials.
fJpon Mr.. Penney's return call was
mediate;y issued to the members of
Z Board of Trade and the citizens
morally, for mass meeting to be
Id in the Improvement club hall
onday evening. when the committee
L which Mr.. Penney was chalrman)
build make its report to the citizens.
AT the appointed hour a large and
thusastic audience had gathered,
d the meeting was opened by the
esident who, in a brief address, an
unced that the efforts of the COM
ttee had been crowned with success
beyond the anticipation OF any
izen. He recited the labors of the
mmittee in adjusting prices on the
nd desired by the railroad for the
ilding of the new stone depot, round
use, machine shops and sidings, and
bted that every property owner, with
e exception of two, had made prices
lat were entirely acceptable to the
mmittee, and that when presented to
b. Parrott he was so pleased with
e public spirit manifested by our
ople. and the inclination exhibited to
liberal with the railroad company,
lat he informed Mr.. Penney that the
liens of Fort Pierce should not be
ked to donate this land as first pro-
sed, but that instead he would send
e company's check for the full
hount ($7, 200) to the Bank Of Fort
cree to take up the deeds deposited
ere. Mr.. Parrott further intlmated
at in consideration of the people be-
B relieved of purchasing the lands re-
ired, it would be unfair to accept as
nations the lands of P. P. Cobb, A.
Sample, +. M. Tyler, and Otis K.
rker, and that the company would re-
i a fair price for these also. The
nerosty of the railway officials is
lily appreciated when it is realized
at other points have made the com
ny offers of land and materials to
e value of $50. 900 to select their city
division headquarters.
The magnaminOus spirit shown by
e railroad officials should be met by
e citizens of Fort Pierce. With the
ception of the two pieces of land on
hich satisfactory price has not been
ranged, the only contention is in re-
lrd to the closing of Palmetto avenue
the railroad crossing. From the
ilroad point of view, this is an obso-
tie necessity, as it is their plan to
ect freight depot extending from
e present freight depot to the pres
passenger depot, at which fifteen
twenty cars may be placed for the
Installation of all local shipments,
pecially pineapples. In consideration
this street being closed the railroad
mpany has submitted two proposi-
pms to the people of Fort Pierce for
eir consideration. They will either
instruct subway under the railroad
pack on Palmetto avenue, or they Will
PEN, grade and pave Tropical avenue
me block north from the Spring cot
|ge hotel to the Methodist parsonage;
|aklng a tunnel under the railroad
back.
Inc second of these propositions
pould be accepted. The railroad
packs cross Palmetto avenue on prac-
cally level ground, and to build a sub
lay at that point, which would have
be about eleven feet deep, would be,
Pout on level with the river, and
ould always be wet and sloppy; be-
des, the grade would have to COM
ence at the corner of Pine street on
pe east and extend to Magnolia aven-
on the west, leaving all the proper
IN these two blocks from one to elev-
feet above the level Of the street.
would be expensive, unsightly and a
trilment to the city. On the other
end, the opening, grading and paving
tropical avenue would be decided
fneht. Here the railroad crosses the
rect on high embankment, and the
esent street level, west of the track,
puld be raised and still tunnel the
ack. The matter will be taken up at
next meeting of the city council: :,
The two pieces of property on which
satisfactory price has not yet been
ijusted are those owned by S. J.
W9nS On nn~s,oAr IN tho roiIrnQ6