El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-04-13
ORDERS SUBWAY
OVER PROTESTS
Council Fails to Concede 10
Day Delay Asked by the
Property Owners.

! Over the protests Of several impOr-
tant property owners. the city council
Thursday afternoon passed an ordi
nance under the emergency clause re-
curing the FL Paso & Southwestern
and the G. H. & S. \. railroad COM
panies to construct a subway from near
Octavia street to the Union passenger
depot, on the right of way of the E. P.
and s. W through which to operate
/ their trains. Two tracks will be con-
structed through the subway The
companies viii be given the use Of
surface tracks only through emergen-
/ cies and to switch cars to the spurs
: OF wholesale houses located on Main
street or who have warehouses on this
street
The ordinance provides for an cleo
! tiOn 10 determine the closing Of Main
! street at the railroad crossing south
, of Buchanan and ut the intersection OF
Durango. If the voters approve of the
closing Of the street the railroads. all
of whom have agreed to the project,
way, to be completed within u months
at cost of approximately S1.125.00O.
Ask Ten Days POstpOnement-
Headed by Z. T. White, property own
ers who have holdings on the north
side of the track near Main and Bu-
chanan crossing protested against the
provision in the ordinance relative TO
closing the street for the subway. Mr.
White asked the council TO postpone
taking final action on the ordinance
, for ten days until the property owners
could confer with the city engineer
relative to deYising a plan for the sub
way which would not require il to be
necessary to close the street
After listening to the contention of
Mr.. White and other property owners,
mayor Lea and the aldermen adjourned
to the mayors office where the ordi-
nance was. passed without dissent
ing vote.
New Mayor a Listener.
The ordinance was read by J. H Nc
Broom. city attorney. The meeting was
attended by many property owners and
others interested in the subway pro-
ject- Among them Charles Davis,
mayor-elect
Mayor Lea, in a brief talk following
the reading of the ordinance, stated
that il would require a large eXpendi-
ture by the railroad companies TO con-
Struct the subway He said the city
would also have to spend considerable
money If the ordinance was adopted
and approved by the voters. This mon
ey will be expended. he said, in build
ing storm sewers to prevent flood wa
tiers from the mesa from damaging the
subway.
The mayor said the subway was
matter of vital Importance and that
the council had approved of the project
after careful consideration. He said
that a mutual agreement had been
reached between the council and the
railroad officials, after much delioera-
ton and study.
G. H. To Use Surface Tracks.
The mayor said it would he necessary
for the 6. H & S A to use its surface
tracks and operate a train each direc-
ton at Stanton street depot each day
in order to hold the property which
was decided 10 the company under the
condition that trains be operated in
THaT~ 10
erty revert back TO the original own
ers or their heirs
III. b. Stevens Asks Delay.
Horace B. Stevens stated that he be-
Heved tie council should take a post
ponement of ten days. as suggested
by Mr.. White, to confer with the city
engineer regarding devising plans for
the subway which would not result in
the closing OF Main street. south OF
Buchanan crossing
Mr.. White said that II it was abso-
lutely necessary to close the street the
property owners would act in coopera-
ton with council, but he said he did
not believe il necessary and urged the
Importance Of postponing final action
for ten days
wants Problem Settled Now.
Mayor Lea explained that il such ac-
ton was taken 1t would then be mat
ter for the newly elected mayor and
council to consider and that II would
require much time and study before
present council had given much time
and study to the railroad crossing
problem and that he deemed It advis-
able for council to act at once.
]. A Krakauer said that he approved
the ordinance and thought 1t should be
passed at once
Spur to Krakauers Remains.
Mr.. White, replying to the remarks
of Mr.. Krakauer, asked the city attor-
neg il the ordinance was passed If il
would not result in Mr.. Krakauer being
able to have cars switched to
Krakauer warehouse which. he said,
would prove a benefit. Mr.. McBroom
could have the use Of its spur and have
cars switched on il.
Mr.. White contended that if the
tracks at the union depot be lowered /
between three and five feet il would
not be necessary to close Main street
south of Buchanan
Says Would Divert Travel.
]. W. Kirkpatrick stated he believed
traffic would be diverted IL the Main
street intersection was closed and that I
travel woul divert TO Oregon street. He
favored the proposal Of Mr.. White for
a ten day extension Of time before TAX
ing final action
Says Roads Desire To Do Part.
MaUry Kemp, representing the @. II. !
& S. A, said that the railroad COM
panies and the citizens Of FL Paso
had the same interests at heart and |
that the railroads desired to do their ]
part in the upbuilding OF FL Paso.
Mr.. White and Mr.. Stevens offered Z
to make certain concessions in grant,
ing property rights il the street was |
not closed
Mayor Lea viii issue proclamation {
for the election. The voters will then
determine the question Of closing the !