The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-03-25
CITY COUNCIL.
A WICHITA ELECTRIC RAILWAY
FRANCHISE GRANTED.
a Long Earnest Session Over the Fran
chise-Iron Poles Between Double
Tracks---Long Discussion
Over Paving Cluase.

Tracks----Long Discussion
Over Paving Cluase.
All members of the city council were at
their desks last evening before much work
had been done The lobby was large. as
usual and much of the old time interest
shown in the proceedings. II was quite
evident from a glance at the visitors that
some railway matters were going TO be
considered. Many of those directly inter
ested were present and many others who
were quite well aware of the fact that for
some months the matter of consolidating
certain lines in the city has been under
consideration. In fact the proposed fran
chise for the proposed consolidated COM
pany had been submitted to many of the
leading citizens days ago and they had
been giving the matter close attention.
| aiming to secure a franchise which would
give the city as many advantages as posi-
bic, and at the same time do
jutice TO the new company At
ter the proposed franchise had been
discussed. amended and interlined by some
of the leading taxpayers it went 10 a com
mittee of the council and the same consid-
cred there. The council spent over two
hours last night and made a number of
amendments to the proposed franchise as
it was given over TO consider. 1t finally
passed.
The new company taking in the City
] Railway company and the Riverside &
/ Suburban will be known as the Wichita
Electric Railway company, with capital
| stock of one million dollars. The stock of
the new company is so agreed upon as TO
allow the city railway stock TO call for
5000, 900 stock and the Riverside & Suburb
an to call for 800, 900 stock. 1t is proposed
to commence work within sixty days and
within four months after that date to be
operating eight miles of electric railway
through the leading business streets OF the
I city.
THE PROCEEDINGS.
Councilmen present, Healy, Carson,
Downing, Schnitzler, Barnes. Coffin,
Glaze Wight, Williams, with Mayor
Clement presiding. Estimate of city en-
! gineer on alley paving was approved and
/ placed on file. Plans for bridge at foot of
/ Eleventh street across Little river submit
ted, total cost $1,000 1t was approved and
| placed on file.
A petition asked that Topeka avenue
| be opened at the crossing of the Missouri
! Pacific
An ordinance making an appropriation
! Of $, 1856 80 was passed. In the apprOpria-
tion was noticed SO for Mrs Doremus to
pay her expenses from Oklahoma here to
give some evidence in a matter relating to
city affairs. An internal improvement
bond for 81, 500 was issued for the benefit of
Mulvane & Kepley on alley paving
Mr.. Carson introduced an ordinance
bearing the title of Wichita Electric
Railway Company" empowering the com
pany to operate an electric railway, single
or double, track on all the streets of the
city excepting Waco, Lawrence, Emporia
and University avenues The franchise to
give rights to a company which should
combine the Riverside & Suburban
and city railway. An overhead
system and in event of double tracks iron
poles in center Of street or between the
tracks. poles to be eighteen feet high.
Where single track, company to use wood
en- poles should it be so desired, but no
wooden poles in center of street in absence
of consent Of city council. The company to
pave all space used by track and one foot
on either side; material to be stone, vitri-
fled brick or block. Gauge to be stand
ard of all new tracks but allowed to oper-
ate present lines at present gauge. In cen
tral portion city speed not over six miles
per hour; turn corners at three miles per
hour; in suburbs not over fifteen miles an
hour. When gross receipts of company 90
over Sl00,00 annually the company to give
the city 81 800. Work to commence on sys-
TEN within sixty days and eight miles
completed within four months.
When it had been read Johson inquired
if ordinance had been published. When it
was answered in the negative and the
mayor said he did not know that its pub
LEGATION before passage was necessary.
johnson offered an amendment to defer /
action for the meeting with Herrig as
second.
Carson thought it good time to con-
slider the ordinance.
Mercer was of the opinion it was good /
time to settle the ordinance question.
Coffin amended to refer to franchise !
committee and city attorney, which was |
accepted by johnson.
Healy said he would oppose the amend /
ment, thinking it had been deferred long
enough.
i ne Ib4I CstLl SlbN tt OlI TIC tultuliutuL {
five for and seven against.
The vote on the motion to place the or
dinance on its passage was received, seven /
for and five against, and the ordinance /
placed on its passage.
There was considerable confusion this
moment and the mayor requested order
in the lobby"
The roll call on the first section showed
ten for to two against.
In considering section five" johnson
moved iron poles be used from Hydraulic
avenue 10 Hillside avenue On Douglas
avenue.
The roll call on the amendment showed
eight for, and four against. johnson
wanted to put numbers on record and
some who spoke against the amendment
voted for it. among them Mercer Down
ing voted against the amendment but y
soon as the vote was announced amended
for iron poles on tairyiew, which prevailed
Mercer amended TO put pole, in the mid
de OF street in streets taken III by amend
ments.
Downing said if the amendment carried
he wanted Fairview excluded, for it was a
narrow. street.
Healy said Mercer claimed 70 be repre-
sentjng east town, but if he put poles in
the middle OF Douglas east 81 Hydraulic.
he would be disappearing the east
part of town.
The amendment was adoped. ten to two.
leaving OUT F4irview.
The paving section did not provide for
paving between the tracks where double
racks are used. aud johnson moved that
the company pave between the tracks a.