Telegram-herald., 1888-01-31
COMMON COUNCIL
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The tfst of1er Of business that came up
was the reading Of = communication from
the Cable Company inviting the Council 10
slsit their power house and inspect the new
place aud the workings OF the machinery
which will proDsl the ears over the nes
road. The Camel accepted the same and
Bet Friday afternoon as the time 10 make
the trip.
The Clerk then read the following com
municalion from the Grand Rapids Street
Railway Company;
IL The Hon. Mayor AID Common Coasscl II
The CIy cf Grand Rapids.
GESrLEaEN--On the 9th OF December
last the Street Railway Co. OF Grand Rapids
asked permission OF your honorable body 10
construct line Of street railway through
certain streets in the Third Ward, connect
ing with its present South DiyiSion-st line
at BlaSely avenue. This application was
made after several months of study as TO
the needs of that portion OF the city for
street railway service.
La response 10 this application the com
mittee 10 whom the matter Was referred
made report at the last meeting materially
changing the route asked for by US. We
deem II but candid and fair 10 the mem
Ders OF the Council TO say that the route
designated iD the report Will not, ia our
opinion, accommodate the residents Of tnat
locality as well as the one asked for By Us,
and that II certainly will not meet or sat
isiy our wishes in the matter. While we
keep in view al all times the needs of the
public. we must also remember our own
interests; and cur experience III the past
with certain lines OF railway has taught us
the inexpediency OF building lines
through sparsely settled districts.
AS matter of fact the interests Of the pub
lie and OF ourselves are IN these matters
identical, and the route which serves the
people best will add the most largely 10 our
revenue. L Is impossible for tho compet-
ing lines OF street railway 10 enter this ter
rtary without absolute loss TO both, as
there is not now and will not be for years,
business enough 10 pay the operating ex-
penses OF two such lines, and we shall de-
cline 10 enter into any such competition
with any other company; and we shall
also decline TO build line OF street railway
over the route designated by the report Of
last Monday evening. We do not do this
IN any spirit of independence merely, nor
DO We wish To seem To attempt TO dictate 10
any one; but we think that IN fairness and
candor 70 the members OF the Council who
have granted us many favOrs in the past,
aud III order TO save any further trouble
and wsste OF time, we should say that the
route designated is not satisfactory and will
not be accepted by US.
Our present facilities upon the Eortherly
end of South Divislon-st. are insufficient TO
meet the growing wants of that section; Al
the same time We cannot run cars upon
that portion of South DiyisiOn-st. with sGi-
hcieat frequency 10 satisfy It's needs
without running empty cars over the
balance OF the line a. great loss and ex-
pense to ourselves; but If by leaving South
Division-st. at Biakeley ave, and pursuing
the route asked FOR by us, we can largely
increase the number Of cars upon the nor
therly end of DiYislon-st., and At the same
time accommodate two popnlous sections,
we will bo doing the residents in that por-
iOn Of tie city favor, and al the same
time De benehting ourselves.
AT the meeting OF the Board Of Directors
Of our company, held in this city last week,
this line as weli as other extensions, sddi
titiOns and improve ments 10 our street
railway system aas fully and thoroughly
canvassed and discussed, and the Board
mapped out plan Tor the expenditure OF
very large sum OF money during the COM
ing season, aggregaiing considerably more
than 100000.
II your Honorable Body will. without TOO
great delay, grant Us by suitable ordinance,
tie right 10 construct line OF road over
the route asked for by rs, we viii under
take to have il built, equipped and running
over put our entire system upon such q
baEis that every portion Of the city occu-
pied by us will have street cars running at
least as often as once IN tel minutes. But
that If your Honorable Body shall see fit
to insist upon changing the route designated
| in our petition. We shall decline 20 accept
the benefits Of il. and on the contrary viii
relinquisb voluntarily all our rights in La
| layette-Et. TO the Cable Company
cation on the table. but this was voted
down. A motion was then made 10 refer il
| 10 the Aldermen of the First. Second and
Third Wards. This elected some spirited
remarks as there seemed 10 be several
Aldermen VITO wanted to be relieved from
taking any responsibility IN the matter.
The Clerk was asked 10 read the comm muni-
cation ths second time, 50 undecided were
| the Aldermen as % its meaning. Alderman
| Davidson opposed acting ia The matter,
| while Alderman HuntlcY was willing 10 DO
| anything that would advance the interests
| of the people. The substitute 10 accept
| and place or file was defeated and the
motion to refsrto the Second, Third. Fourth
and Fifth Ward Aldermen was carried by
the following vote.
Yess-Aldermen Brenner, Crequs, De
Graft, Davidson, Elsenhsrot Saunders.
Stein Mayor.
Nays-AlIernen ward. Hantlev,
IsunieFe, Mars Mckee. Panliua, stewart.
-.
Justice Walsh asked Tor q civil docket.
Collectors from eli toe Saris asked for
a. extension of time far TIE collection O.
la1es % March J. Granted.
A isrgs ngnosr Of yJang q - asked She
privilege of coastng On AswbsrfF-si
Plaoei on &c.
Ias Eaisoa Electric Light Com ~anY
asked permission - erect pois- On tie szsst
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stretchlag wires thereon. which nss re-
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