Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-12-23
Ordinance Vacating College
Street Passed by Council
Last Night, Closing it up
for New Structure.
COMPANY DONATES
So, 600. TO FUND
Agrees to Give Amount to
Police and Fire Depart
r1ent on Passage Of the
Ordinance.

81 IN COM6lQef&LlOn Oh uOAAIIOA W Liz
police and fre fund Of $4,000 and speci
.f1c changes In the ordinance favorable
to the city and property owners OF the
vicinity, the city council last night
unanimously adopted an ordinance
vacating South College street for the
construction of the new freight depot
OF the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
Railway Co.. representing an expendi
ture Of approximately 100000. The
ordinance goes into effect today, hav
ing been. published as required by law
Alderman McDaniels, chairman OF the
finance COMMITTEES, stated that the
voucher for $4,000 for the police and
fire fund would be received within 9
week. The construction OF the new
freight depot will commence about
March Il, Just as soon as the weather
permits, according to statement made
by Superintendent j P. Cummings OF
the Ottumwaf division of the Burling'
ton. today. The ordinance calls for
the completion of the structure within
q year from today.
Started In May.
Action for the proposed vacation OF
College street was taken up by the
council last May and complete invest1'
CATION made Of the proposition. The
matter was sthreshed out thoroughly
ana She council agreedsto vacate ttz,
street upon certain concessions OF the
railway company Noagreement could
be reached at that time, however,
and the matter was dropped until re-
Gently when the railroad again became
active and opened negotiations. A
new ordinance was drawn up and
Dagsed last night, favorable to both
contracting parties. Ottumwa Is now
assured new Burlington freight
depot. s.,. "a
a.s7 s The Fund Donation.
before the ordinance was passed
last night, contract was entered into
between the council and the railroad
REPRESENTATIVES,, +. 8. Johnson, gen.
eral Superintendent Of the Iowa dis
tr.ct, j. p. Cummings, superintendent
Of the Ottumwa division and +. Cone,
assistant superintendent of this divis-
ion, whereby the railroad company
would make donation of $4,000 to
the police and fire fund Of the city i'm
mediately upon the passage OF the va
eaton ordinance. The need of revenue
for these two departments was realized
by the council and the $4,000 was very
acceptable. ##rn T., (
! 3 a. Best For the City. -
IN the passage of this ordinance, the
.councilmen feel that they have taken
a step for the best interests of Ottum'
wa and her citizens. Shippers have
been making. requests for larger
freight house for facilitating their
Shipping and in fact, placed the mat
ter in the hands of the Commercial
association, which was the first to ask
for the vacation of the street when a
new depot was in sight. Three para
graphs at the beginning of the ordin'
ance give this reason of need and i'm.
proyement for vacating the street.
College street will be vacated from
the center line of Samantha street to
a line, thirteen and one-half feet north.
east Of the alley situated in the rear
Of the Milwaukee passenger depot.
The railroad company is given per
mission to construct and maintain
three tracks across Union street, five
across Jefferson street, three across
Green street and one across College
street.
MUST 5CoHvex 1Touno.4
One of the most important parts of
the vacation transaction is the convey
Ing OF q strip of ground, thirteen and
or1e.half feet wide now owned by the
railroad company to the city for street
purposes. This strip extends from
College to Jefferson streets and ad-
Joins the present sixteen and one.half
feet alley in the rear of the Milwau.
kee depot. The Burlington railroad
must pave, curb and properly drain
this forty feet Of ground for street
to give the residents of the south end
Of College street means of exit and
entrance This district will be cut
of from the city by the construction
of the freight depot across College
street. The council was insistent up
on this strip sof ground that a street
and passageway might be secured.
TO, Build Subway.
In order that tho new freight house
may In no way interfere with steam,
water and gas mains, telephone and
electric wires and cables, being estab-
lished from above the freight house
to the district below on College street,
the railroad company must construct
a subway, not smaller than four feet
square for this purpose. The company
(Continued on Page 8.)