Show DONT BE IN A hurrye THE renewed attempt in another form to induce the city to hand band over the block known as old fort square to the projectors of railroad company has haa made quite a stir in the community we publish a communication today which we believe expresses the views of a large majority of the citizens we regard them as the proper ar arbiters titers in the d dispute that has arisen about this piece of property we consider the land belongs to them and not to the city council it is an important legal question whether that body has any right to give sell or otherwise dispose of that property without the consent of the owners that is the people that question ought to be decided before anything further is done in the matter if the city council has legal power to dispose of the square it will then be in order to determine whether it ought to be sold at all public policy public needs and public opinion ought to be duly considered to Is it wise is it necessary is it in accord with the wishes of the minority majority to sell that square if so then the price offered must be fairly weighed in connection with that the public benefits to be derived from the railroad project which the transfer of the landas land is expected to assist must be investigated nothing should be done rashly there is no need for a terrible hurry of course the gentlemen who want the land want it badly and they want it now that is very natural we say nothing against them nor their anxiety but the city council need not get into a flurry burry better be a little slow than to make a hasty blunder the reference which is being male maje to what has been done in regard to railroads to is not good argument in relation to the present what was done in the old times was done under the impression that the council had more powers than later decisions of courts courte have shown they possessed it was done with an honest and sincere belief that it was for the public benefit the body of the people endorsed it and there was no public protest against it what might have been eminently proper then may possibly be very improper or impolitic now cow property too was 0 far less value at that time than today and therefore the dis disposal of land for such purposes did not assume the importance that attaches to it at present we have no disposition to put a straw in the way of any enterprise that however profitable it may promise to be to individuals to is I 1 likely to be of public convenience of course the projectors of the deep creek railway expect to make money out of it if the enterprise is to be of public benefit that should be enough to recommend it no matter how much money individuals may make out of it so long as they do not get their money out of public property or in an improper way it seems to be generally conceded that the deep creek railroad will be of great profit to this city and territory that being so is it necessary to the success of the project that a public square shall be turned over to the company if so will the public interests be better conserved by holding the square as originally designed for a public park the eity city or relinquishing qui quis shing bing it to a railroad company for a depot within the city have we not too many depot blocks already Is it good policy to multiply them cannot new roil railroads roads obtain depot grounds outside OF of settled districts which will answer their heir purpose without penetrating too near into in to the centre of town we presume some of the enthusiastic persons who are urging on this scheme will co complain of these queries and call them obstructive we care nothing for that they are proper questions ions and ought to be considered and they are not the true friends of the public who v ho desire to rush through any scheme to divert public property for private use without full and impartial imparts investigation |