San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-02-06
AUSTIN LETTER.
A New Street Railway Scheme, and It's
Progress-Some Reasons, etc.

Editor san Antonio Light.
AUSTIN, February ,, lsSG.-Sev eral
weeks ago Mr.. d. NJ Wilson petitioned
the City Council Of this city to grant to
himself and associates the privilege OF
constructing and operating Il line OF
street railways to occupy such streets
not then used by the old company. The
petition was referred to its appropriate
committee by the Council; at a succeed
ing meeting it was again brought before
that honorable body. and an ordinance
introduced which was thought by ma
iority of the board insufficient in pro-
tecting the City's interest, especially rs
considerable annoyance to trade. and
travel has existed heretofore, due to a
want of proper legislation In regard to
the existing Company. The ordinance
WAS properly postponed for further con
sideratiOn. This caused considerable
feeling against the action Of the board
among the movers of the measure NS
u result Of the neCPs Sary delay the time
arrived for the contemplated extension
Of the lines Of the Old company on East
Pecan street. an enterprise which Dr.
TObin had decided upon carrying out
more than IL months since by bonding
his road, contracting tor iron, ties. and
in fact everything necessary 10 con
Struct about four miles adhi-
tional road. The ties and rails hat-
ing arrived he " one put
\ large force Of men to work on Red
River and East Pecan streets. \ day
or two after he began work, the Council
met and granted the petition Of Mr.. Viii
son and others, granting them the right
to operate anywhere in the city, not eX-
cepting streets already occupied by the
old company. But the protection to the
city which was set forth in the Ordiu-
anCe was too much for the movers
of the new enterprise, and they refused
to accept its conditions. At the last
meeting Of the Council, one of the alder
men who was the recognized champion
of the new company, had this ordinance
repealed, and another was offered more
suitable 10 the palates OF those who
seemed to want to build the new road.
An amendment prohibiting them from
building on any street now occupied 10y
the old company passed by the deciding
vote of the Mayor. With the same sen.
stiye disposition as displayed before
they rejected the ordinance and with
drew from the Council, and then raised
the cry of outrage. The gentlemen who
composed the new company, have
given the public strong grounds TO
suspect their good faith in their
ever undertaking to build Il foot OF road,
no matter what concessions were made
by the city. Mr.. Male, the moneyed
man of the company, has twice, within
two wears, been defeated for Mayor by
Colonel Robertson, and the other gentle
men were his warm supporters. and
many believe he il working this plan TO
place the Mayor in the attitude Of an OBJ
structiOnist against public enterprises,
etc. The present company have been
running their cars for - years. and until
last year have never been able TO declare
n dividend. With a rival line. a thing
that exists in no city in the United
States. the accommodations would neces-
sarily be such as to be a drawback in
stead of an Improvement to properly on
the streets upon which they run. DIR.
TObin is and has for Years been a bcne-
factor TO this city, and the Council, in re-
fusing to grant rival company the
right of way on the streets occupied by
him, have performed an act of Justice
in which they will be sustained by the
public. Less than year ago MIR. Nalle
enjOned the present road from EXTEND
ing its line on Live Oak street, and has
since been regarded as an anti
railroad man, and il the truth was
known Dir. U. would not put dollar in
the enterprise.
am preparing number of reasons
taken from the records of this county,
which | will give through the LIGHT,
why | refused to accept the invitation
OF Mr.. Dave Hunter to sue him for an
advertising bill, which he owes the
LIGHT.
A Mexican who keeps chile stand in
the First Ward. shot at his wife last
night, but fortunately the woman es-
capped. CARANCAHuA.