The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-01-23

committee, said he wanted to hear
something specific. He said that UNI
less something was said which would
change the appearance of things that
he felt the franchise committee had
better report the ordinance favorably.
: When became alderman / became
one-twelfth of Pensacola and believe
have perfect right to vote to give
the road a franchise just the same as
II the city belonged to me. and I con-
slider that one-twelfth Of 1t does while
am councilman he said.
James McHugh rather doubted the
alderman's right to do this and told
him so. ]. w. Andrews, another
property owner. said that he felt that
the property owners had some rights
and that because the railroad had
been given part that it did not de-
volve upon the council to give it
everything within its power. Mr.. An
dreWs made a strenuous and repeated
objection to the closing Of the streets.
WANTED PROOF.
F. L. Seegar talked at length and
with a great deal of feeling. He said
that the road could give no logical
reason for closing the streets and
called upon representatives Of the
railroad to tell why ii was necessary.
Mr.. Saltmarsh's explanation that tha
handling Of long freight trains would
block the streets did not satisfy Mr..
Seegar, and he said without wishing
to cast any reflection upon Mr.. Salt
marsh's integrity. he knew it was not
necessary.
J. J. Bowes, Jr., a resident of East
Hill, also objected to the closing of
the streets.
Chairman Meyer asked Frank j..
Mayes, whose name was signed as
chairman of the citizens committee,
If he could offer any reason why the
streets should not be closed. Mr..
Mayes said he felt that since the
streets had been laid out when the
city was planned the presumption was
that they were for the public to use
and that it deyolved upon the railroad
to give reasons why they should be
closed. He said he saw several sala-
ried representatives Of the railroad
company present and that he would
like to hear the reasons they had for
closing the streets.
William Fisher took a different
opinion and said that the franchise
committee had decided that it was
right to close the streets and unless
sufficient reason could be offered to
-the contrary he thought the commit
tee had a right to be upheld by the
council.
HOW MUCH FOR DEPOT?
Mr.. Mayes thereupon gave his views
as to why the streets should not be
closed. He said the streets might not
be needed today for any great amount
of traffic, but in view OF the fact that
the city was growing. and that the L.
& N. believed 1t was going to grow
sufficiently to invest more than
quarter of a million dollars in i'm
provements, was reason enough for
the city to safeguard It's own interests
and not give to the railroad rights it
would regret afterward. He referred
to the fact that the only city property
available for a municipal wharf is
south of the tracks of the road and
that it would be against good bust
ness to have this property cut OFF
almost entirely. He questioned Mr..
Saltmarsh as to the amount of money
which would be spent for depot. but
the latter said that he could not give
out an approximate amount because
bids would be asked for on the work.
Mr.. Mayes made the point that the
s237, 900 was for the entire improve
ments, tracks and real estate. and that