The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1889-06-18
The street Railway Ordinance.

The street Railway Ofu'AaHcc.
To he Editor of the Flondan:
Last Wednesday afternoon the City Council
of Tallahassee met and enacted an ordinance
granting to r. l.. Bennett and associates the
right to construct and operate system OF
railways along the streets ct Tallahassee, with
erc}ustre right Of way over I'll streets # the CITY
for period Of ten years from date OF the ordi
nance and with the further exclusive rgh' OF
wav for a period of ninety nine yeas on all the
streets along which they Will have constructed
railways during he first itn Yeas
The writer has ever been foremost in a vocal
ing any movement locking toward TIE i'm, rove
ment and progress OF Tallahassee, and in cncour-
aging Northern capital to invest here, but
cannot endorse or encourage hasy and indl;c;eet
action, such as this ordinance undoubtedly Is.
\ street railway i quite a convenience and adds
life and interest to city, but 10 shut out al
railway companies from the rght OF passing
through any of the streets OF the city Tor PERIOD
of ten years, and perhaps for ninetynne, in order
70 secure a street car line, when there IS no
urgent demand for such 8 luxury, is the height
Of FOLLY. particularly so when the Augusta, lalla-
hassee and Cult Railroad, the Gainesville, Iaila-
hassee and Western, and mayhap other roads,
are now being constructed, or are 10 be at an
early day, and each expecting 70 secure the right
Of way through the city. Which wouiG prove
ofmost ben.tt 20 Taahassee-to have a street
car line n0r or to let lhe several railways IN
and become a great railway center, after which
the street car lines would naturally follow, and
without giving lis constructors such exclusive
rights and franchises:
1t m X be rather late now 10 oppose this iUju-
dic0us ordinance, but the City Council jumped
into it with their eyes open, and, II there Is my
loop hole fol- them to crawl out a, the citizens
should urge them 70 modify the q dInauct.
Oiher cities have made Just such uaWise steps.
10 their sorrow, and ii gentleman, v hn J. thor
Oughly acquainted with The provoking distG-
vautages " ich z sim'' a. ordinance ud ConirAc
has hrOu4h upon Ce0'glaC J. lty cNpaine0
{, whole mater % diiisren' m m5er~ ot 'Ar
Council and the Mayor aud URGED ZEN uo ln
enter into such a cidal c'nl.c1,bu' lhry acall-
ened no, AMI enaced the orc nance Wh!I" not Il
bakers dozen oi the G.! ms KEY 4 breath
the matter until The ordinance bee me- cit'
law
Would i: not be well Hereafter, in matters
such importance 10 the future o II, CITY, tyr tn
Council 0 call a meeting q citizens - discus,
the Qucs ION he ore final acioa
The following synopsis 81 tic orlna &c
given that lae pubic mav seg what an cXcn- -
monopoly h1s bcon granted % L. B-"netl an..
associate
Section one gives the exclusive right o VA
through all he streets OF the ely, q sci tor,h
the firs. paragraph OF This AT Gle, which, iof
period o! TEA years. a et>t, p'ohibi'3 any oth'f
railway company from constructing d'po> 0.
operafil /. ines ~ rpaH anywhere within The cor
porat limits 81 be city, The only pr"Vl-" beng
that the Bennett ID nun cars over their I'M
daily. Oae TIP DAY would over this
Scum Two provides thai the work o! con
strnc;iOn mist begin within we've m 'nths, AMI
that within another Twelve months rom time "i
beginning their line O; rnilw " must be IN O"rt-
ton rom he present depo' OF the FlO.ida Cen
trail and Pehiu,uar Railway 70 The northern
b ,undNrv of he city It not DELAYED by pfovi
Dental caus's :, in which case they are to he
granted An extension ri time cquI 20 Tie deltN
plus eiXiv d"vs atitinnal
Section three gives authority to use STEAM
MOTIVE POWER and 10 un {pc0aDttces dnd trans
If cu}y though OF TIE streets OF the cny, "a
a speed no. more than ten miles an hour, and 10
use the same to connect railways built or 10 b.
built Woudnt il be exciting to have a loco
motive screcching along Monroe street in the
fall months, when it is crowded with wagon,
and cars laden with cotton and Other market
able products, and 10 mules aud horses prauc
ing and dancing AID running away, endangering
life aud limbs?
Section tour provides that cars shall not be
run at greater speed than allowed by Ordi-
nance, except as pl, viIcd by section three.
Section five PROVE that tue street car com
pany shall keep the streets for two feet on e; b
side OF their track graded and in good condition.
Til nix OF it. only two leet, when they should
grade the entirr street.
Section SIX fixes the rate OF fare for passengers
at not to exceed ten cents per mile or less than
mile. except pcrmi'e! to increase rate by tu-
ture acts Of the City Council.
Section seven gives exclusive rights OF way
over any streets extended or made by the city ;
therefore, ifthe city limits we're eXtended,no OF er
company coul3 operate line Or establish N de-
pot without paying a royalty 10 the Bennett
Company.
Section eight exemps The company from tax
alton for period of ten years, in lieu of giving
free rides to the city police.
Section nine provides that The railway com
pany shall be subject 70 fine for any violation o!
The CITY ordinances.
Section ten gives the comp my The right 10 lay
a double track on any at the streets, while SC
ton eleycn SETS iorh that no team shall obslruct
their way or ,t,rd their progress, which would
be rather difficult to avo d on marrow streets. il
wagons were heavily laden and horses balky.
Section twelve AID The last m lkes HE ord
nance a bin ing contract upon both K L. Ben.
nett and ass clates and the city.
What does The pnLlic Thick OF sllch An unwlsc
ordinance? NOX p, Pull
New York Wlrld Bill Cnauule L