The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1916-05-09
.NYM0RE HIGHWAY
TO FOLLOW LAKE
SHORE TO SECOND
City Council Decides in Favor Of
Plans Submitted by
Engineer.
M. & /. WITHDRAWS
OFFERS AND OBJECTS
Present Bridge and Railroad Cross
: ing Not Safe; to Condemn at
Once.
M. & I. WITHDRAWS
OFFERS AND OBJECTS

jOurned meeting last evening at the
city hall decided to construct the N.Y.
more highway along the lake shore
to Second street and then to Beimdji
avenue. Plans Of the city engineer
were accepted and the city attorney
was instructed to draw up resolu-
tion to provide for the condemning of
property for the route.
Railway Objects.
The Minnesota & International
railway company which objects to
the opening Of Second street, has an
nounced that it will take the matter
into court, protesting against the
new route.
Railroad officials and several cit
izens attended the meeting of the
council last evening and participated
in the discussions.
- Cost About Same.
City Engineer Swinson submitted
estimates showing that the fill in the
lake shore route would cost about
$2,574 and the paving $5,O5O, MAX
ing the total expense of the lake shore
highway without the construction of
bridge $7,634.
The engineer estimated that to
make fill at the present route as
proposed by the Minnesota & Inter
national railway would cost $1,360
and the pavement would cost $2,542,
making the total cost $4,000.
The difference in the expense of the
two projects would be about $4,000.
However, one-half of the pavement on
the lake shore highway is assessable
to the railroad company and it would
cost about $1,000 to move the high
tension steel towers at the present
crossing. The two projects, there
fore, would cost practically the same.
49, ,s>r: Favor. third Street,
There was much discussion at the
meeting last evening. The railway
company favored a route along the
lake shore to Third street bit re-
fused to consider the opening Ct Sec
ond street. They withdrew their
Third street offer after action taken
by the city council last evening.
Insult to City. ....
"The present crossing is blocked
every day. 1t is an insult and dis
grace to the city," said Alderman
Bailey. There is no place in the
state that has as dangerous cross
ing. Any railroad official or citizen
who would watch the traffic at the
present crossing for 20 minutes
would turn away. in shame"
''The citizens do not want to do
anything against the railway COM
pany but the citizens do not want to
be imposed upon," said President Ly-
can after discussing proposed chan
ges to the present route.
A. M. Bagley, president of the Be-
midji Auto club, stated that in his
belief the present route is not safe.
1--WE ought to change the lake shore
! route or make the other one wider" "
| said Mr.. Bagley. II favor the lake
! shore proposition"
Favors Present Route.
T. j. Burke of the Northern Gro
Gerry company advocated the chang
ing of the present route, stating that
he believed that the lake shore pro-
position would be too expensive.
'The majority Of the citizens dc
not want the present crossing" said
Alderman Smart.
The city light committee reported
| favorably on the placing of street
lights on Dalton avenue on 21st, 22nG
and 23rd streets.
The light committee was asked t.
investigate the request Of George
French for lights on 18th street AM
Irvine avenue.
The city engineer was instructed
to repair the cement paving and $1O'
was appropriated for that purpose.