Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-14


out any detailed information as to
its actual or implied purposes. If
the Philadelphia Press of yesterday
morning was right in its interpreta-
tion of the bill, the people of Pittsburg, or
at least scores of Pittsburg corporations
whose privileges are defined and limited by
the act, are vitality interested in it, pro or
con. Here is what the Press said of it:
Mr.. Marland is Pittsburg member, and while
he presumably introduces the bill in the inter
est of the motor company of Pittsburg, the
traction company will also derive every advan-
tage contained within its provisions. The
law prohibits any person from tunneling under
or passing over, by work, the conduits of any
motor or cable company for the purpose OF
making water gas or other connections for any
purpose whatever without first notifying the
company.
Under this provision if private citizen
wanted to connect his house with the gas and
water mains and it was necessary to pass under
the conduits of the traction company, he would
have to first notify the company before the
work could be done. The law also gives the
company the option of doing the work itself if
it does not care to trust private contractor.
Any violation of these provisions is punishable
by a fine.
In addition to this the proposed law gives the
motor companies the right of way. This the
traction company always had. Other privi-
leges granted them are to cross tracks OF all
other companies. to build bridges at grade and
to cross all bridges along The route of the COM
panies' lines. ANY person who obstructs the
passage OF the cars is, under its provisions,
liable 10 arrest and a fine of $40.
The small boy will have to forego the pleasure
of dropping a string down the slot with tin
can, or any other article, attached and seeing
it carried along the conduit by the cable. This
is made an offense and is punishable by fine
or imprisonment or both in aggravated cases
MR.. MARYLAND EXPLAINS.
The Hon. Alfred Marland, who will in
troduce the bill, was seen at his residence
on Mount Washington last evening. He
has been ill for several days with throat
troubles, and talked with difficulty. He
said:
The bill is divided into several sections. The
first part is to prevent any person from tunnel
ing under or passing over the works of any
cable or motor company for the purpose of
making water gas connections. or for any
purpose whatever without the consent of
the company; and the latter may do the work
itself if the company does not care to
trust a private corporation. A traction or
motor company is for public convenience, and
its cars should not be delayed by persons lay
ing gas or water pipes just whenever they
choose and without the consent of the COM
pany. This section conforms with the law re-
lating to other railroads and street car lines,
and do not think it should be in any way OBJ
jectionable. If the consent of the company
cannot be obtained, the persons who wish to
lay the gas or water line can, by proviso in
the bill appeal to the courts of the county,
and the judges will decide who is in the right.
1t is not unfair that the company should be
permitted to have the right of seeing that the
work is performed satisfactorily. and if the
parties who are laying the line will not or can
not perform it with satisfaction, the company
should be permitted to do the work. That part
of the bill needs no defense. If either one of
the parties thinks he is being cheated, he may
appeal to the courts who will decide. That
right is provided for in the measure.
THE CROSSING PRovIso.
Another section will give a traction or a
motor company the right to cross the tracks of
any other corporation, provided certain salts
factory arrangements can be made with the
party of the second part. If not, the matter
may be carried to court, and the court will de-
eide.
Some corporations imagine they have the ex-
elusive right along certain highway, and they
prohibit all other corporations from running
cars along that road or street. Now, it is the
intention of this bill to prohibit such practices
and allow the traction or motor company to
obtain redress in the courts.
1t also permits the named companies to con-
struct bridges at grade crossings. Suppose
traction line would have to cross a gully
through which a railroad passed, and this rail-
way line did not for reasons of its own, wish to
have bridge constructed across its tracks. but
would do all in its power to prevent its erection?
The object of my bill is to permit the traction
people to construct snch a bridge, provided
they do not violate the ordinances as regard
height above the tracks, ETC., of the city in
BIG BRIDGE PRIVILEGES.
It will also give traction and motor roads the
right to cross any bridges along the route.
wnen satisfactory arrangements cannot be
made with the said bridge company the traction
companies may appeal to the courts. This is
20 prevent any bridge company from giving
one railway company the exclusive right to
cross its bridge, and will remove all barriers
from a traction or motor road crossing with
the exception of the matter of making terms.
The Judges in our courts will decide how much
should be paid, provided no arrangements can
be made.
The last section of the bill provides for the
imprisonment and fining of persons who will
fully destroy or interfere with the property of
the company.
The only copy of the bill that have is in my
desk at Harrisburg. 1 think when the bill
eide that it is very satisfactory measure and
contains some common sense. There is moth
ing monopolistic about the bill and as traction
and motor roads promise the coming methods
of transportation, it will give them some rights
which are now prohibited. The bill needs no
defense.