Telegram-herald., 1890-08-02
CONTIGUOUS TRACKS
superintendsnt Bevier Has Word
70 say About Them
REYlRES As IOrROLLEY WIRE POLES
Il ne wiss fer ths CoaRen 10 Establish .
Prscsdsat That MAJ Results Disas-
IroasIy 10 Pioneer street. Car En-
tsrprise IA the .tatsr

poles 10 be used BY the Grand Rapids
Electric Railroad Company. II vas
recommended BY the Committee on
streets and passed with one lmma-
ter.al modification, that a certain
IRON pole and a certain wooden
pole be used ia such places
and manner as the Common Council
should direct. superintendent Beyier
was present at that meeting. and urged
upon the council the necessity OF tax
Iug speedy, definite action upon such
literal basis as would euable the com
pany % 90 forward without hindrance
with the enlarged policy which had re-
Gently been adopted with reference TO
street car service IN Grand Rapids. Mr..
Bev,er stated at that time that while
the company did not expect from the
city any unreasonable concessions, the
city would be asked that the company
ha not namOeIed BY restrictions not
absolutely demanded by the circum-
stances OF the case. The council that
evening left the matter as it found 1t,
by resolving that the company might
pat down certain poles whenever and
wherever the council should n future
s.rect.
Al the next meeting Of the council
the whole subject was put over for
week after being loaded down with pro-
posals OF varying degrees Of avordu-
pos.
Directly after the above conciliar act
al prCcrastinatlOn 10 became apparent
that not all the alderman had realized
the gravity OF the interests involved.
10 has since transpired that the whole
electric railway enterprise IS standing
around awaiting some definite action
of the cltv fathers. Mr.. Beyier says:
"MOst persons are apt TO suppose,
from what they have seen of telegraph
poles, that this whole question IS only
a cheap matter that cannot possibly
spread out beyond few hundred dol
lars. AT most. But, by actual figures,
u is a matter of S42 900. That, | sub
init, Is matter OF some consequence IN
the beginning OF any enterprise. The
company has expected 10 put IN such
poles N certain portions of the city as
would not be offensive to good taste;
but the hope has been entertained that
the company would not be forced into
expendIturesint this direction that would
weaken more important branches of
the enterprise. Moreover, / think that
many fail 10 realize how essential is ex-
pedItlOn IN matters of this kind. Every
part of a large machinery must tit to
every other part, and uncertainty about
one part Is a delay OF the whole. The
pending uncertainty Is not a matter
that affects the poles only, but extends
through all our operations. Just
where tins S42 900 IS to be expended Is
a matter OF urgent consequence, espec-
tally in view OF the fact that Messrs.
Hayes and Mather are abroad, and can
not easily be reached with business
communications. | trust wise and
definite settlement Will be reached be-
fore many days"
"Did YOU see Mr.. BOwne's explana-
ton of contiguous tracks rs published
tOnlght?'
"ldid. That IS Bowne's definition,
bat not Webster's. The Truth of the
matter IS Mr.. Bovine does not mean
what he says on this subject, and have
no hcsItancy IN saying, that If the cOun-
ell accepts Mr.. BOwne's definition on
that basis, and grants him what he asks
for. there viii be a big case Of mis-
placed confidence 10 90 on record. and
that portion OF MODroe-sJ. Will De dec
Grated IN the same manner as Canal-st.
now Is, and the street VIII be practic-
ally ruined. This fact il recognized,
and IN spite of some coming nlanIpula-
ton OF property owners on that thor
Oughtaro by the cable cOmpany's OffiC-
ers, there Is n deep-roOted distrust OF
the scheme, and those interested Will
petition the council 70 deny the cable
company the unjust franchise they ask
for
II tell you continued the gentleman,
'sthe issue OF this effort means great
deal more than one would at first
glance imagine. Il strikes at the root
of progress. not only in this city, but
throughout the state. If the council
grants them permission 70 invade our
rights with contiguous tracks, or any
other tracks, 20 cut through our ties, to
Dig under Us % lay conduits. and 70 do
this to the most valuable part OF our
entire system, what company IN this
State Is safe Who viii dare to be the
pioneer IA street railway improvements.
VIII We dare to extend our lines
rs the growth Of the city demands
when az any time the council would be
liable % grant permission 20 another
corporation 70 parallel our track and i,
without any Of the cost and risk that
always attends pioneer movements,
come in and reap where We have sowed f,
and. lust AZ our lnvestme nt may begin
- psy us 4 profit, trespass upon rights
We thought granted US ~ good faith uy
the council, 90 whom We naturally look
Tor protection, and share Our profits.
claim that they might just 80 equitably
step up Co oar treasurer each day aud
= e a.
allowed 20 run cont El0us tracks in ter
ritory granted O. us and which our en-
terprise and Investment 0f capital has
helped 20 people.
For instance suppose or you have
$4,000 10 invest M street railway
prorfrtv. And suppose that the coun-
c,I 1T Grand Rap fs has establ shed a
precedent such a. Mr.. BOVINE hopes for
would We not be- foo sh % take
chances with our money and, securing
franchises. en ahead and lay tracks ia
zh desirstie ferr tory "a We nl'gnt
have rbtalaed. purchase horses. buiid
btrns. buy roiirr stock and hre men
a. chat others could come IN after all
enc rrrHnl.usrv work bad been done
ans rrsn haf the bCuedn Would G
rot BE- trfn teiv better 30 let the other
f.fisw do all shat. ard then 60 to the
council. of whatever town we may De
f-. ard ask them f0 iet - lay 'conagu-
ogs irscSs
Take Detroit for instance. The
efv railway company there has
Tnns tnat ARE now valuable. en-
Woodward. jefferson aud M.chl-
oss-ate- Woud not a cauItal. 81
Ard a good field for investment by
gong to tat city snd taxing With hlnl