Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-07-04
OPINIONS OF PROPERTY OWNERS.
Talk About the City Railway Ordinance Now
in the Mill

care OF the council committee on franchises
and the city attorney for consideration is
attracting considerable attention. The
ordinance as read to the council before be.
ing referred gives the company the right
to change to electric motor or put in q
cable line. 1t seems to be the general
opinion coming from the company that
the cable part OF it will play very small
part as the question of changing to cable
is not being seriously con-
sldered by the company. The
talk and agitation is over the electric
motor, as that seems to be the one selected
by the company. In order to give the pub
TIC some idea of the opinion Of the prop
erty owners most interested, number Of
interviews were secured ond given.
| Captain Carey-Would not favor poles
IN the middle of the street, for accidents
would certainly result and the city would
be liable. Think the Thompson-Housto
system would be all right with poles on
the sides of the streets. On Douglas and
Main it would be god thing.
Charles Biting, of Biting Bros.-I am
| decidedly in favor of an electric railway,
and am quite willing that the cross wires
be attached to buildings certainly don't
streets, nor do l want to see any more on
the side, but that would be much better
than to have them in the center. But the
best plan would be to fasten the support
wires to the buildings
j. 2. Allen-If the franchise is granted
would not favor poles in the center Of the
streets, and some care should be taken to
cut down speed to the point where there
will be no danger. With proper provis-
ions about speed it would not be any more
dangerous than cable
Charles Jones, of Cole s. Jones-Am in
favor of electric railway or something that
VIII give more rapid transit, bring the
residence part of the city closer to the bus
mess center. Don't think it would be best
to have poles in the middle of the streets.
l.. ID. Skinner-Have been weighing the
matter carefully and prayerfully. The
poles are what don't like about it. The
storage system, If a success, would be all
right.
Oscar Smith-The scheme is all right.
Think it would benefit the town and hence
/ am in for it,
W. f. Green-Chicago had nothing but
mule power when it had 600, 900 people. If
1t would be all right. We will have time
with our horses. Certainly there will be
many accidents to report
o. G. Daisy-I guess it's all right.
j. IL. Aley-I think a change to electric
motor would be all right if they don't run
too fast. l don't think they should be
allowed to run as fast down Main and
Douglas as they do on Market street as the
graveyard business would increase. Six
miles an hour would be fast enough.
Major E. R. POWELL regard the adop-
ton of electricity by the Wichita street
railway company as a boone to the city
and think the company ought to be en-
couraged in the enterprise. In my opinion,
and you may make the point as strong as
you can, the company deserve great deal
of credit for their enterprise in this under
taking, for the work necessary to be done
envolves great deal of expense and more
than any other company would be willing
to undertake under similar circumstances
The relaying of all their track and the
adoption of a standard guage involves the
outlay OF small fortune and the cost of
their electric plant is still to be added to
this. 1t will be one of the greatest adver-
tisements for the city, and l believe this is
appreciated by the business men. Wichita
must keep abreast of the times and the ac-
ton of the street car company will influence
other public enterprises to put their best
foot forward. do not think you can find
a single objector, who understands the
subject at all. / am willing and anxious
to do all in my power to help the matter
along and do not think the city can afford
to stand in the way. On the contrary, be- |
lieve they will lose no time in granting a
franchise which will so materially benefit |
the city. The centerpole especially where !
there is double track is the most desir- |
able and may be made ornamental AS
far as the fast travel is concerned people |
will get used to it and will eventually de- |!
mand it. In the meantime the city regu-
lates it.
c. A. Walker-I am in favor of the |
Wichita Street Railway company using
on general principles. 1t is
evidently an improvement and everybody
in this city has an opportunity to know it.
To my mind the centerpole. is preferable
for supporting the wire such as in general
use in the main thoroughfares of other
cities. doubt if anybody has any serious
objection to the movement, and its benefit
will be appreciated by all before it is in
use week. There is a clipping from the
New York Railway Journal which will
show you how the overhead wire system is
in Washington. (Railway
Journal) 1t will doubtless be remember
ed in connection with this road that the
question of overhead wires both as regards
Danger and the Disagreement of the
streets received much attention. The dis
,rict committee of the United States senate
after carefully investigating the subject of
overhead wires, reported as follows: THE
testimony before the committee
shows that an electrical cur
rent OF four or five hundred volts
potential is not dangerous to human life
The testimony is overwhelming and con-
elusive on this point.
There is no danger in overhead wires.
rhe poles and wires are but little, if any,
obstruction TO the streets. Overhead
wires have been generally adopted and
lave been generally successful Your
committee deem it of great interest to the
District of Columbia that the electrical
ystem of propelling street cars should
lave had fair trial.
Certainly it would seem from this that
in as beautiful city as Washington
wires and poles are not considered objec-
ionable, arguments against them ought
lot to have much weight elsewhere.
r. E. Lawrence-I am in favor OF cleo
richly. l think there is at present no other
PRACTICAL way to use electrical power for
treet cars other than the overhead wires,
S the storage batteries have not been per- ;