Telegram-herald., 1891-02-17
OUR CITY FATHERS
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The shortest session OF the council
held foF many a week. WITH al adloarn-
meat At 30 O'clock and also the most
important sesssen for many moatA,
Wa held last evening. There VAS no
orat0ry. nO contest. Nd parliamentary
sparung. The time was not ripe for
that. street railway matters dominated
al interests while they consumed
scarcely more time than the eomptrol-
lers report One railway company
came Ia for brand new d0mielle with
IN the city, while another company
came ia, with the traditions of years OF
virtue and ain, asking for baptismal
regeneration.
Mayor Uhl called the council 10
order a. 7.i0 o'clock and most OF the
aldermen answered the call Of their
names.
The nrst order OF business is the
reading OF petitions, and the very
flTst petition was that OF the Valley
City street and Cable Railway Com
pany, asking a great thing. Ii was
nothing less than a prayer for the
favorable consideration OF an accom-
panying ordinance OF the most radical
sort. The title of the soughs-for ordi-
nance Is as follows; "An ordinance
granting permission TO the Valley City
street and Cable Railway Company To
construct, MAINTAIN, use, operate and
keep IN the city OF Grand Rapids"
street railway system. The document
opens with = string of whereases, re-
citing that the properties of the old
Grand Rapids Railway Company
have come into the posses
sion of the petitioner, and that
the economical and profitable manage
ment of tine consolidated interests de-
nand certain changes. The proposed
ordinance then starts in and balls for a
completely new railway system from
the ground up, precisely rs If no track
had ever yet been land IN the streets. II
maps out q system covering the whole
city. Ignoring old lines OF travel where
interest dictates and granting franchises
through new streets heretofore un-
touched by street railway tracks. The
whole system IS 10 be operated by cleo
tricity.
While all this will be more or less
new TO the general public, there was
nothing III it to cause the play OF
facial muscle upon any member OF the
council. The whole matter had been
discussed IN quiet committee of the
whole last Wednesday, and was of
course not unexpected. The gigantic
nature of the scheme will not appear
until the legal aspects OF the mattersin-
volved come up At later day.
motion 10 refer TO the Committee on
Ordinances and the city attorney was
carried without dissenting voice.
petition from the citizens of East
Grand Rapids, reciting that popula-
ton of 1000 shortly expect to come in
TO the city, asked the council TO grant
n franchise to the Reeds Lake Electric
Railway Company 10 the heart of the
city at once. During the reading of the
petition, Mr.. Wessellus walked INTO the
council room. Accepted and placed on
file.
Henry Spring and other citizens of
Monroe-st., were granted the use of the
engineers room IN the city hall,
Wednesday night, TO consider the mat
ter OF Monroe-st.
A communication from the Valley
CITY street and cable railway company
asked permission To- discontinue the
cable service on the Ottawa and Taylor
streets line. The communication re-
cited that the expenses of cable for
this line - SO 900, that the many curves
on that line are very detrimental TO the
integrity OF the cable. that the present
cable has required almost daily Spite
lug, and that IN few days the cable Is
expected To break down entirely. The
company promise TO pat horse service
on the Ottawa street line "a soon as the
cable IS discontinued, and to give trans
fers 20 the other lines of the city. The
communication also reclted that other
arrangements than those proposed
would be pasable. we're II not for the
fact OF tue contemplated change of the
whole system TO electricity, an ordln-
arce for which has already been asked
for. The south line cable will run as
herstofore. The whole matter was re-
ferred 10 the committee on ordinances
ard the city attorney.
Tne cofnptroller's report wound up
with a grand total OF 81 ,06S.i0.
Alderman sproul, from the special
committee, to whom VAS referred the
complaint of the Builders aud Traders
Exchange against the Board of Pubic
Works, for It's unjust determinations
against local architects, reported that
the complaints ought To be specific and
and detailed and put IN writing. The
committee therefore reported request
ing the complaInants TO make their
complaint 60 the council st is next
meeting. according to the requirements
Of the law. The report was adopted.
Alderman Turner. from the SPECIAL
committee appointed 90 draft re<oiu-
t,ous Of respect te the memory OF the
late julius House1nan, presented the
resolutions formulated by the commit
tee. When they were resd they we're
adopted unanimously hy rising vote.
Alderman Carpenter moved that the
COMMITTEES on ordinances be requested
- report an ordinance granting fran
chise "a the Reed : Lake Electro Rail
wav Company. Carried by the affir-
NATIVE vote Of ali but Aldermen Hsnser
and Yerex-
A this point, a notion 20 adjourn
found So many instantaneous seconds
that no one could doubt that some CON-
mon desire 20 get away was burning IN
the hearts OF majority Of the manisi-
uai fathers. The most ciiigent enquiry
failed 70 elicit any information on shss
point.
A Change in the Firm.