The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-07-21
ZIG IMPROVEMENTS.
The City Council Grants n Franchise to
the Electric Street Railway Co.,
and Is Presented u Prop
OsitiOn for Water Y !
Works,


As anticipated in the call for Especial
meeting Of the City Council for Thursday
evening, the Electric Street Railway Co. was
granted q frachise to run q single or double
track road, with all necessary turn-outs and
switches, on the streets and side streets Of
the city from whose frontage owners it has
Ircured the right Of way.
The routes is as follows: commencing on
Norris street near the Ottawa Driving Park
Associations ground, running west to Col
umbus street, south to Main street, west TO
Clay street, south to Illinois Avenue, wester'
" to Seminary and West Pearl streets, west
TO Elm street, south to Ottawa Avenue, and
west on Ottawa Avenue to the Ottawa Aven.
street at the city limits, running west to
South Division street, south to Main street
across the Fox River bridge, TO La Sale
street, thence north on La Sale street to
Lafayette street, west on Lafayet street to
Chestnut street, north on Fourth street, east
to East and DeLeon streets, easterly on DE
Leon street to Columbus street, south TO
Norris street. Also commencing at inter-
section of Main and La Sale street to and
across the Illinois River bridge and south
therefrom to Courtney street, along Court
ney street to State street, and then south on
State street to Glover street.
The ordinance provides that the franchise
is to run for period of twenty years. All
Of the line is to be completed and in opera
ton on all the streets mentioned within one
year from July 10Th, and if not SO completed
the franchise to revert to the city-unless by
reason of strikes or injunctions the company
is unable to procure its material. In the
last mentioned case, not more than three
months additional time to be granted. All
grades, waterways and culverts are to be
conformed to whatever changed by the city.
Any failure on the part Of the road to operate
on the whole or any part of its line to the
satisfaction Of the public, causes the fran
cbise to be voided as far as the neglected part
is concerned. Ali tracks must be laid with
fat, side bearing rails, and the road bed at
all intersecting streets must be plenked be-
tween the rails to the full width of the
street. The width between this rails must be
four feet eight inches and the rails must not,
at any point project more than an inch
above the level Of the street. The cars are
to be first.class, modern cars, to be propelled
by an electric overhead contact wire suspend
ed from poles set within the curb-line limit
on the street on either side thereon, and so
adjusted as not to obstruct the public use of
the streets or sidewalks but should some of
the favorable and otherwise unobjeotionable
method of furnishing electricity for the
operation of said road be discovered, said
Railway Company shall also have the right
to adopt the same in the place of, or in con:
nection with the use of said over head contact
wire.
No manner of traffic, excepting the trans
portation of passengers aud their baggage,
may be carried on, and the fares shall not
exceed five cents for single fares, four cents
on communication tickets for adults, and two
cents on commutaton tickets for school
children of all ages, and all children under
fourteen years for any one continuous trip
for any or all lines of the road.
All bridges before the company shall be
required to pass its cars over them shall be
tested by competent engineer, The road
has the privilege of running additional wires
for "feeders,' from the power station, on
any street within the curb line. The rights
and privileges are subject to all future ordn-
ance, excepting as to license for cars OF to
change rate Of fare, and the city is not liable
for DEGREES or judgments growing out Of the
granting of the franchise.
The company must file a Bond of S25 900
to pay all damages to property owners.
The ordinance consists of seventeen sec.
tions, which were passed singly, and then
the whole was adopted by an eye and no
vote.
Before taking final action on The matter,
Mr.. Evans was asked concerning his aver.
sion to having the i've minute service en-
bodied in the ordinance, and stated that he
did not think it possible to keep up such
service day after day without interruption.
He would at diverse times desire to run
theatre trains, church trains and amusement
trains of various kinds, and in such an event
would necessarily be compelled to take half
the cars for that purpose. He guaranteed
the council FIVE minute service between
$50 and 9 80 a. m, II g. m and p. m. and
s. p. m. and sp. M, and for longer periods
if the public demand required it.
WATER WORKS.
A petition from the Ottawa Water Works
Co., (the principal stakeholder in which 10
the Hon. j. D. Caton). was read by Clerk
Kelly. 1t asked for an ordinance granting
il A franchise for thu oract;on and maintain