The Sentinel=record., 1914-02-25
IRON MOUNTAIN RAILROAD IN UNREASONABLE REQUEST OF
 BUSINESS MEN.
PROPOSAL IS TURNED DOWN
Depot Must Be Placed on the Proper ty of the Company-Interest of New RaiIrod are Evidently Being Taken Care of By Iron Mountain.

Presenting plans for a new railroad station that used 50 feet of the city streets and asked for the absolute shutting off of the Olive street inter- section of it's line, the Iron Mountain railroad through it's officials appeared before an impromptu meeting of the Business Mems League yesterday to ask for the adoption of resolutions addressed to the city council favor able to their wants in the matter of this anticipated improvement.
 The motion to approve the scheme was presented by Chairman Hamp Williams president of the Business Mems League, who presided at the meeting, and there were some ayes to the motion, but there were about an equal number of nays, and after some further discussion, the whole of the matter was deferred for further con sideration
 Engineer Smith of the Iron Noun tain railroad presented the plans of the proposed new depot, which call for a ~" shaped building, stretching from along Valley street noTthwaiT to point and then along Elm street south to the baggage rooms. Behind this building was left room for a freight house within the same block.
 The building was one story, of brick, and as outlined provided for the main wing of the building on Val ley street being used for the white waiting rooms, and ticket office, and for the wing on Elm street having the negro waiting rooms, baggage rooms. and extending back to where is later proposed freight house
 The plans provided that the trains should not come along side the depot, but should abut the depot on the south side. Tracks for six lines were arranged for there, together with two additional tracks that would lead over by the proposed freight house.
 MT. Smith explained that the com pany wanted to put the depot 50 feet further northward in the street, than the company owned property, because of a desire to get the trains on wait ing tracks in clear of streets at the southern terminal He said the com .I At, ferht fn this 50 feet of street, and would want the council to close up Olive street,
 eHas the city the right to give the streets to the railroads?" was asked
 MT. Smith stated that attorneys for the company had gone over this ques- ton, and the company would take chances on building in the street, if the council would pass such an ordin- ance.
 But the city could move us out of the street" he said, If ever the time came that the city did not want Us to occupy it further"
 That answer did not coincide with the experience the city has had i'll this line. The Rock Island occuples part of Benton street. Some proper ty owners in the past had spent more of their money than they could afford trying to get the railroad out Of that street, and had failed to do so.
 MT. Smith explained that the new plan as shown, anticipated a much increased business on the part of the Iron Mountain. The railroad he said would need more than one passenger track for it's patrons. He urged the adoption of the new plans because SIX tracks could be used, and the city might grow to that need He spoke of the Iron Mountain being wiling to build a $60 900 passenger station here. when other cities of an equal size never had such splendid depots. But he did not state that Hot springs travel was not to be measured pp other cities of equal size, or that the Iron Mountain was probably prepal- ing to take care of the depot, passen- ger and terminal business of another railroad. tine Memphis, Dallas and Gulf. and that the Iron Mountain rail- road was probably not making that extra arrangement without a view to eompensation to the Iron MountaiS road.
 Alderman Sam Williamson started the fight on the giving of the street to the depot when he asked if the railroad would agree to take the two spurs now on Valley street off that hreet. Mir. Smith said the railroad company probably could not agree to