The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1912-10-03
REFUSES TO take UP PROPOSITION
TRANSFER PASSENGER STATION
Protests from Audience Results In Action Of
Declining to Enter Into Any Negotiations,
LEAVING Matter in Railways Hands.

The request of the Northern Pa
ciflc to transfer it's passenger service
from the downtown station to the High
Line was not granted by the city
council last night, after arguments by
John Tracy, Herman Winterer, Robert
Anderson, Lee Combs and James
Grady against the proposition were
heard. Mayor Platou, Councilmen
Clark, O'Malley and Lee were in favor
of entering into negotiations with the
railroad company to ascertain what,
If any, concessions would be made
by the company in consideration for
the permit, but when vote was TAX
en-, after hearing from the audience,
the council was unanimous in decid.
ing to give the request no further
consideration at this time.
This leaves the matter where it
stood at the beginning of the litiga-
ton more than two years ago. The
council taking no action leaves it to
the Northern Pacific to make the
next move. Just what that move
will be remains to be learned, but it
was emphatically stated by those op-
posing the proposed change in the
passenger service, that any attempt
to transfer the station to the High
Line will be protested by litigation
and carried to the highest courts.
Mayor for Negotiations
Mayor Platou opened the meeting
by announcing that it was called for
the purpose of considering the propo-
sition of the railroad COMP any and
discussing the advisability of enter
ing into negotiations for the purpose
of obtaining concessions should the
request be granted. He said the orig
inal proposition of the Northern Pa
cific contained the concession of max
ing Valley City the terminal of the
Cooperstown branch and bringing the
shops here from Sanborn and making
other improvements in the city. Al
though the proposed change became
involved in litigation he said the rail-
road company wants to be friendly
and voluntarily purchased twenty
lamp posts at an expense of approx
imately $1,000, for the white way"
to light its property to conform to
the new lighting system.
while the Norrnern Pacific came
to us before with concessions" said
the mayor, 1T offers none now. The
proposed change is one that is vital
to the tax payers of the city and
have called this meeting for the pur-
pose of discussing it, laying the prop
osition before you to determine if we
shall enter into negotiations with the
railway company and make them a
quest be granted
CounciImen Give Views
The mayor first called upon the
councilmen for their views and then
upon the audience.
Councilman Clark said he believed
the city and railroad company should
be friendly and that it would be prop
err to confer with the officials of the
company before taking action in re-
gard to their request.
Councilman O'Malley said he be-
lieved it is proper to find out what
the city wants from the Northern Pa
cific, ascertain the desire of the peo-
pie of Valley City and act accord
ingly.
Councilman Lee spoke in similar
manner and Councilman Holland said
the councilmen are the peoples ser
wants and should do their bidding.
None Of the other councilmen
spoke.
Hear From Citizens
John Tracy was the first in the au-
dience' to speak. He said he appear.
ed in the interest of the taxpayers
and that it was to the taxpayers in.
terest to keep the station down town.
He itemized the expense of going to
the High Line station on a ten cent
fare.