San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-05-03
in THE COMMON COUNCIL.
A Very Important Meeting and
Some Progress Made--The
Railroad Ordinance
amended.


Amended.
The special meeting of the council as per aG
tournament was held last evening. A conmu
nication from the Rapid Transit company was
read, in substance stating that as the ordin
ance presented by the council committee in
Gated line over the same streets that their
petition covered, they had accepted said or.
dinance as a response to their petition, and
that a meeting of the stock holders of the
| Rapid Transit company was accordingly held.
| AS result of that meeting they wished TO
| make the following representations to the
council, in order to SHOW the impoSsiblity OF
| working under the council ordinance.
| list The privilege was limited to twenty
years, time much too short to enable the
| company to place their bonds at a reasonable
| rate of I'M crest, and would not justify the in
| vestment OF quarter OF a million dollars for
construction and equipment.
md Seven miles per hour, including stops,
| is sufficient speed in the central portions OF
| the city, but on the long lines in the suburb
an increased speed should be allowed for the
| cOnyen ence of the public, equal to len miles
per hour, including stops.
3rd Forty pound rails are too light for cleo
tro motor cars. The weight should be not less
than forty-fve pounds.
4Lh In view of the many narrow streets
and short curves in the city, the public con-
venence would be subser> ed by giving the
company the option of laying a narrow track,
not less than four feet, If found practicable.
9th. Tue time all wed for construction is
TOO short considering the delays ALREADY made
and the uncertainties OF securing franchise
by which they have been prevented from
placing orders for rails, ties, motto. S or rolling
stock. Since time is made condition of the
bond and renders ii subject to forfeiture by
delays over VIII oh the company has no con-
troll, aud since the failure to begin the work
will ale % cause a forfeiture of the franchise,
we are instructed to say that the objection to
this clause is insTperabe only by extending
the time to at least ninety day S and providing
for a further extension upon proper show
ing on the part of the company, that the delay
IS through no faulL OF IT'S own. They were
prepared To make almost Superhuman efforts
to reach the tar grounds III the time specified
but would not undertake 10 do so under the
penalties of forfeited franchise imposed 10y
the ordinance Both the amount and cDndi
tOns of the bond required is out OF the ques-
Uon. Conditioned as prescribed i'll the Ordi-
nance, ii would be smpiy man trap. subject
10 be forfeited by either the WllltuI or negli-
gent conduct OF any emp!vye OF the company.
9th. There is Il section " hich pI Divides for Il
forfeiture without hearing. upon dc clara
tiOn OF the city council. We are instructed To
say that unless this section is stricken from
the ordinance, this company is not caudl-
du!e TOR the privileges.
It'll This ordinance nominally allows q five
ger cent fare, but exac:s five per cent of it for
a stipend for the city. 1t is rea ly special
tax for the privilege of doing business, and ad-
Olng to the wealth OF the Guy. This company
proposes TO furnish the city an improved and
expensive street car service, an experiment,
the revenues of which are too uncertain to
admit of this burner. We are thereiyre in
structed to say that il this provision remains
in the ordinance, this company cannot under
take the work,
1t would seem. on the whole, that the effort
in draftiT g this ordinance mas Deen to dScOur-
age this enterprise rather than promote it,
and by its eXactiOns and limitations, make ii
impossible to undertake the work.
We trust that upon mature deliberation by
your honorable body more liberal spirit may
Oe manifested, and ;hat the objections here
VI az O.
moved, so that we may enter upon the con.
StructiOn of the work at once.
III connection with this the mayor informed
the council ne had Il numerOusly signed pei
tiOn asking the council not 10 impose harsh
restrictions upon any company Offering tei
construct "rauid transit railway
Alderman Lockwood adore ssed the council |
in behalf OF hberal policy. and cited the past
action or the council and the city.
Alderman kalteyer called for the reading of
the ordinance by sections, and IT WAS so con |
sidered in committee of the whole and amend |
ed. These amendment $ covered changes OF |
route, reduced bond from $4,000 to- $1,000,
and changed the per cent tax on gross earn /
ing to a graded tax commencing with = Eer |
cent III 1894 and reachiug5 per cent in l9OU |
were adopted giving the com |
pany right of way over TIE city bridges and to |
keep the city good against all damage arising |
from the use of the streets The ordinance, as |
amended, will be acted upon next Monday in |
regular session.
amended petition binding themselves in the |
event OF some COMPANY failing to complete |
the work not to use their proposed line on |
Garden street. Mill street bridge and Madison |
street. except to the feir grounds. and to pay |
over to the city monthly 10 per cent of the |
gross receipts. The company pledge them |
selves to lay the track in such a manner that |
it will in no way interfere with regular traffic, |
finishing the entire space between the rail !
and roadway with planking. bond is also |
offered to hold them responsible to carry |
5000 people every hour.
-, RI a NJ