Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1891-11-16
PLAYED THE WRONG CARD
"COI.." MARTIN CAUGHT mig
GING" BY THE BOARD.
The Threatened Spanking Came
Sooner Than II Was Expected
Anew Wrinkle. in Street Rail-
way Building in AsheviIIe. $50
"There's many a slip
'Twixt cup and lip"

'Twixt cup and lip"
That was the little ditty which went
surging through the grey brain matter
of "Col." ]. G. Martin, president and
general manager of the Ashevile Street
railway company, all day yesterday.
1t will be remembered that the board
of aldermen on Friday afternoon consid-
cred the matter of the new electric line
which the Colonel" proposed to build
up Valley street for the accommodation
of the tobacco warehouses.
A charter had been granted for the
putting down of the line, on the agree
ment that the Colonel" would at the
same time build road up Water street.
that the other warehousemen might have
equal accommodations
But the Colonel" went to work on
the switch for the Valley street line, and
showed no disposition to put in the
Water street road. Then the board took
a hand and told the Colonel" to sus.
pend operations until the street commit
tee could consult with him and arrive at
definite understanding.
But no! "What has the little board to
do with mc?" mused the Colonel"
Don't | remember the ten-cent fare?
Where's my chalk-stick ~
Then he went to work. All day Sat
urday he was planning how he could
show the board thing or two. He had
his men look about and get up a gang OF
workmen, cooked and primed for Sat
urday night job.
For he was going to put down the
track on Saturday night, while no one
was looking, but fair Luna, who didn't
seem to care for anything but the non
lighting electric lights. He would lay
the track from the Goodlake curve on
South Main street to the branch, then
run over private property just on the
eastern margin of Valley street.
But the moon was not alone in look
ing after the city's interests. Some OF
the other warehouscmrn saw the ties
strung along the gullies, and informed
the proper authorities Chief of Police
Mcdowell sent down a detachment OF
police to the scene Just before the force ol
forty or fifty ily.by-nighl railway build
crs arrived, about O'Clock, aud when
they did arrive were confronted by an
array of blue clothes and brass buttons
with such determined look that they
decided to dcsist.
"Col." Martin went downto the scene.
"What does this mean?" said the
"Col" Il will give orders to my men,"
"Certainlv. SIR replied the officers,
"but We also have some orders, and
the first man who strikes a pick into
that dirt will be arrested"
Officers were kept there all night, and
all dav yesterday, and last night, and
today they still hold the fort, determined
that their orders shall be carried out.
On Saturday evening about 7:30 a
special meeting of the board of aldermen
was held, at which every member was
present. 1t took only short time to
decide to revoke the charter given the
"Col." to 90 to the warehouses, mas
much as he had shown a disposition to
disregard his contract, and b,'ild only
one line And the charter will stand re-
vokcd, so one OF the board told THE
CITIZEN this morning until he will agree
and give bond to build and equip both
lines.
"Thc best laid plans of mice and men
gang att aglce." and Col" Jas, Gotlett
Martin has found it out, by playing one
card too many.
Now, what's the matter with rcvoking
the tcn'ctnt fare?