Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-12-19
STREET RAILROAD CuNPLICA.
TlONS.

THE decision rendered yesterday
by His Honor Judge Zane, in the
case Of certain prc perty owners anu
residents on First Street against the
two railroad companies running
electric cars on that tloroughfare
was emirently proper in its principal
point-that there should be only
one track operated. This conclu-
sion is reached on the grounds that
the street is not sufficiently wide TO
admit Of two lines without obstrrct-
ing and rendering dangerous ordin-
AIRY traffic, thus invading the pub
lie easement, and seriously depre-
ciating the value OF property in that
locality.
In our opinion the learned Judge
did not point out the remedy. He
seemed to think that it consisted iD
compelling both companies TO
use one track, one set of over
head wires and, Of course, one
source of electric power. This
would only increase the danger
which he very clearly pointed out
as now existing. The remedy lies
in the right Of using the street Tor
railroad transit purposes being limit
I'd TO one company.
Suppose that both companies
should use the one track and over.
head con.rivarces from the Eagle
Gate north to First, and up Fist to
A Street, what would be the Prob
able situation? The ansSeris clear.
In order to supply the public needs
for service by the respective lines in
the localities east of 4 Street, il will
be necessary TO run the cars with at
least as great frequency as now.
Demands are already being
made for an increased service,
10 diminish it would be 4 source OF
Inconvenience TO the people. Hence
the car traffic over the single track
would be at least equal to what now
goes over both. This would involve
the danger of cars Of the respective
companies meeting On the single
track. This liability would be in
creased by the fact that the en-
ployes would be under separate con-
troll. a meeting of cars on the steep
grade west of A might occur inad-
vertently, by unavoidable delays or
other causes. An incident Of that
nature would be attended with ina
mense danger to life aud property.
The descending car cannot be
stopped at will, and might dash into
the one ascending before it could Ice
reversed and beat a retreat. II there
even were two cars ascending on the
one track following each other, the
brake on the lead one give way and
the packing of the machine blow
out, the humiliation of both cars
and the killing 0: their contents
would be almost inevitable.
This is no mere imaginary by
pothesis. Ii is common when cars
are ascending heavy grade for the
packing to blow out, and at least
one instance has occurred Of a car
running away through the brake
failing TO act. An incident of that
kind transpired considerable time
since on the Twenty-first Ward
line, on the grade which ascends
northward where the tracs. leaves
South Temple Street.
the mistake in this business lies
in the granting Of franchises over
the same streets to different COM
panies. The City Council has pur-
sued a most objectionable course in
this direction. The First Street
matter can, in our opinion, only be
remedied by restricting its use to
one company. Perhaps this can be
done without a great deal OF loss or
trouble, providing one company is
granted a franchise on some other
street not now occupied by a rail-
road that will suit their purpose as
well as the one now used. This
could be arranged by the company
retaining the use of First Street
bearing their equitable proportion
Of the expense entailed by the
REIMBURSEMENT OF the other.
G Street might, We should
think, suit the Salt Lake City Com
pauy, rs they could reach Sixth
Street without losing much of their
present patronage by that route.
The grade is, we believe, at least as
easy as that Of First.
The City Council are pursuing
policy in the granting Of franchises
that beats the record Of any city in
the world. In the face of the pend
ing suits growing out of the grant
ing of these rights to several COM
panies and the great annoyance
70 the public growing on.
of the situation, they still
keep on the same course. AS an
instance Of this. in The face of the
fact that one comp,ny-The Salt
Lake City-held n franchise for a
double track on North Main Street.
the Council, on last Tuesday night,
granted one on the same street 10
company. 1t included the
right tn operate the proposed road
with any kind Of motive power,
from q bob-taile1 mule 10 4 steam
engine. The laundering and un-
scrupulousness Of the Council is the
cause Of sll the present trouble on
the street railroa6 question.