The Helena independent., 1890-02-15
FAVOR A DOUBLE TRACK.
The Meeting at the Board of Trade
Rooms Yesterday Largely
Attended.
Two Lines of Track on Main Street
from Broadway North
Favored.
"r'' Rails and Street Paving Discussed
How Mr.. Farchen Feels About the
Latter Proposition.

Iattei tfolosHlohs
The meeting AT the Board Of Trade rooms
yesterday afternoon to consider double
street car tracks on Main street drew out
representative attendance. I rails and
street paving were also discussed briefly.
Among those who attended the meeting
were Mayor Fuller. Il. c. Wallace, DIR. c.
X. Cole, r. II. kleinschmidt, II. Il. Palmer,
Judge Joseph Davis. ]. W. Thompson, A.
c. Botkin. S. C. Ashby, A. w. Lyman, Geo.
+. BOos. Aldermen Harrison. Richards and
Brown, A. NJ. Hotter, IL. NJ. Parchen, Donald
Bradford and many others. While the
meeting was ostensibly to be Board OF
Trade meeting, President Hotter said there
was not a quorum of its members present,
and on motion he was made chairman.
The object of the meeting was stated, and
TO start discussion Mr.. Palmer introduced
a resolution 10 the effect that II was the
sense of the meeting TINT il WAS IN favor Of
two tracks ON Main street. Nj. Parchen
maintained that the Helena Street RailSay
company had right 10 build two
tracks on Main from Sixth ave-
nue. down, and this resolution would
recommend three tracks. Mr.. Porchen's
mnd was d'slbused of this. however
by Mayor Fuller and Col. Botl.'n. who re-
ferred hun TO tie ordnance granting tue
franchise. Upon investigation Mr. ParcLen
was satisfied he WIS mistaken. Mr.. Hotter
said the question WAS not So much Main
street RS other streets. Center street for ex-
ample; there three trucks w0uld run by
reason ol the street railway 10 the Montana
Central depot, the Brnadwater and Helena
Hot Springs Electric lines. IL was shown
that this impression was also wrong; there
will not be more than two tracks on any
single block of Center street, As the Helena
Hot Springs line branches of westward at
Lawrence.
These matters being disposed of, Mayor
Fuller, who was anxious for public express
sion of opinion ON tho adyisabiity Of grant
ing the Wallace franchise, which may per
nit double track on Main street, ex-
planned his position, which depended solely
upon the opinions of the citizens assem-
bled. He rad an oprn ON from ex-Gov.
Carpenter, which was in effect that the
couucil has absolute control over the opera
tion OF street railways, because they are run
ON the c.ty's property, and the council may.
II il SO chooses, by authority of ordinance
AZ, which relates to all street
use single track in COM
mon. Col. Botkin further stated the may
or's position. He said he did not violate
any official confidence bv saying that few
hours would decide whether lac would sign
or veto the Wallace franchise Palmer's
resolution was discussed, and II was after
wards Withdrawn, rs it had no bearing on
the subject under consideration, il was
thought. Mr.. BOtkin, after short recess,
introduced this resolution:
Resolved, That II is the sense of this
meeting that ordinance No. 25i shall be Bp-
proved with the understanding that the
rights thereby conveyed shall be subject 20
/ the provisions of ordinance No. AZ, reQuir-
ing that the track now operated ON Main
street shall be used by the grantee named in
said ordinance No. a5i IN common with the
Helena Street Railway company, and that
the city council shall by its proper action
require the use in common of such track.
This was amended by Mr.. Bradford to
read that the meeting was in favor Of a
double track on Main street from Broadway
down. He spoke at length in favor of his
amendment. lie said he favored all the
street car lines that could be put in here,
/ and would like 20 have II arranged so that
every line In the city could ru. its cars up
and down Main street on two lines
of track. That IL the bust
ness thoroughfare, and people should be
brought on 20 that strt ct; that is what
makes property valuable; all business
should trend 10 the center OF the town.
he also alluded t. tie great Inconvenience
and danger OF turn-outs, and thought they
should be abolished. The resolution as
amended was adopted.
MI hleinschnlidt then introduced reso-
luton recommending to the city council
that IT WAS the sense of the meeting that
thu should not grant any street car COM
paIy the right 10 lay rails within the CITY
limits. and 10 require them 10 pave their
roadway and at least one foot on each side
of their tracks. With an amendment con.
fininR the paving to business street, the
resolution was adopted. In supporting his
motion Mr.. kleinschmidt took occasion TO
criticize the CITY government for its utter
disregard of property owners in granting
street railway franchises, and he referred
particularly to Fifth avenue and permitting
I rails to he used, in violation of the CITY
ordinances.
Mr.. II. NJ. Parchen was anxious to hear
discussion on street paving, but as the hour
was growing late. be would only make a few
remarks. de said he was surprised TO OBJ
serve that the city WAS asked b bear por-
tion Of the expense of paving Main street.
He was willing and thought all property
owners on Main street should pay for the
work and be anxious to do so. Ii would
greatly enhnnce the value of their property,
and if they didn't care 10 do this, let the1l
sell oui 90 persons who will do H. lie owns
forty-ive feet front on Main and is ready
10 pay for the work whenever II shall be
authorized. Mr.. Ashby suggested that IN view
of the fact that Main street may soon have
a double track the cost Of paving tO prop
erty owners will amount 20 very little II the
car coluUaufes shall be reuuirrd To nave
their tracks; there will be very little space
left on either side. Dr., Cole thought the
property owners in the lateral streets who
will be benefited by the paving should be
assessed 10 help pay the cost, but this did
not meet with general approval. J'ne meet
ing theu adjourned, and Mayor Fuller was
decided rs 10 what course he would pursue
relative 20 the Wallace franchise. winch is
that he will approve the action Of a maiori-
ty OF the city council.
Twenty-Five per cent discount on all suit and