The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-03-19
AFIGHT FOR FRANCHISES
THE SAVANNAH AND ISLE OF HOPE
RY. GETS WHEATON STREET.

A Double Track to Be aid From Lib
erty Street to the City Limits, to Be
Used by Any Other Railway to
Which the City May Grant Fran
chises-The Savannah Electric Rail-
way Company to Be Granted the
Use of the Street for It's Electric
Line.
The city council spent three hours last
night trying to settle the street railway
problem. The principal debate was on
granting the use of Wheaton street for rail-
way franchises.
The special committee on street railways
submitted majority and minority report
upon the petition of the Savannah and Isle
of Hope railway for the use of certain
streets.
The majority report, by Aldermen Myers,
Carson, Harmon and Bailey, recon mended
that the company be granted the route,
from the intersection of River and Water
streets. on Water street to Mill. through
Mill street 10 Farm, through Farm street to
William. through William street to West
Broad across West Broad to South Broad,
through South Broad to Wheaton. and out
Wheaton to the city limits, upon the con-
ditions:
CONDITIONS OF THE GRANT
That the roadway be located by the COM
mittee on streets and lanes.
That the double track be on the south
side OF South Broad street and on that
portion of Wheaton street between its in
tersection with Liberty street and the city
limits double track also be laid, the city
reserving the right to grant its use to any
N D. - AA
city may hereafter give its consent to the
use of such portion of Wheaton street.
This latter company or companies to be
granted the privilege upon the condition
that they pay for the use of the double
track such compensation as may be agreed
upon with the Savannah and Isle Of Hope
railway. In event an agreement cannot Be
reached, council will determine as to what
reasonable and proper compensation is, It's
decision to be final.
TO PAY FOR WIDENING WHEATON STREET.
That the Savannah and Isle of Hope
railway reimburse the city for two-thirds
Of the expense to which it may be put in
widening Wheaton street between its inter-
sections with Liberty street and the Bilbo
canal to uniform width of sixty feet, In
event the city grants the right to use that
portion of Wheaton street to any other
company, the company to which the fran
chise is granted must pay the Savannah and
Isle Of Hope company its pro rata share of
the two-thirds of the expense incident to
the widening of the street.
That the Savannah and Isle of Hope
Company begin work within six months,
and that it complete it within one year.
Ii the company uses electricity as a mo-
tive power it must be under the conditions
provided in the ordinance granting the right
to use electricity to the Belt Line, the City
and Suburban railway and the Coast Line
railway.
The company will be bound by all ordi-
nances and resolutions that the council
may see fit to pass, providing for the inn
provement OF the streets included in its
| route and in all matters pertaining to street
railways.
THE ENTERPRISE COMPANY OUT OF 1T.
The petition upon which tine committee
| reported these recommendations, according
to the report, is substitute for that pre-
| sented by the Enterprise Street Railroad
Company, which is to be Withdrawn, and
all action taken by the council with refer
ence to it is set aside.
The minority report, by Alderman Cam,
opposed the building of a railroad on
Wheaton street, and the city's bearing any
OF the expense incurred in the widening of
the street, which is made necessary only
| through the building of railroad through
it.
The officers, directors and counsel for the
Savannah and Isle of Hope aud the Savan-
nah Electric railway and OF the Belt Line
were present. The Savannah Electric rail-
way has petition before the council for
the use of Wheaton street for its line, which
was referred to the committee on railways
and will be before the council at its next
meeting. The Savannah and Isle of Hope
company, which pro- oses to build froIa Sa-
vannah to Thunderbolt and Isle of Hope
does not intend to build an electric linz.
THE KIND OF ROAD.
One OF the questions before the council in
the consideration OF the committees report
was the kind of road which should be built
on Wheaton street. A road built for
steam or animal power cannot be used by
an electric road, unless specially equipped.
As the Savannah and Isle OF Hope COM
pany does not intend to use electrical
power, it does not want to build an slec-
trio line.
To settle this question Alderman Myers
moved an amendment to the report provid-
ing that in event the council grants the
right to use Wheaton street to the Electric
Railway Company, that the Savannah
and Isle of Hope Company lay its
tracks Of such gauge and style
OF rails and with such equipment as will
allow the road to be operated by electricity,
the extra expense attending this equipment
to be borne by the electric railway com.
pany.
ALDERMAN CANN's POSITION.
Alderman Cam opposed the amendment
and offered a substitute that Wheaton street.
between Liberty street and the Skidaway
shell roe d toll gate. be laid with track, which
may be used by any other road that may be
granted the use Of the street, and that may
desire to use electricity as a motive power
The substitute was lost on a tie vote, the
mayor voting against it. Alderman Myers
amendment was carried aud the report as
amended was then passed.
The Savannah and Isle of Hope Company
must notify the city of its acceptance of the
conditions upon which its purchases are
granted within the next fifteen days
An adjourned meeting of the council will
be held this wesk to receive the railway
committees report upon the electric COM
pany's petition, and II it is granted there
will be race between the two companies
for the occupancy Of Wheaton street.
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