Los Angeles herald., 1891-12-08
THE RAILROADS.
The Electric Road Wins
Another Point.
1t Wants More of the Cable
Road Tracks.
A Union Pacific Nabob Arrives in
San Francisco.
The Proceedings Yesterday Before Judge
Wade-Traffic Manager Mellen.
on California Affairs
News Notes.

Representatives of the Consolidated
Electric Railway company and the Pa
cific Railway company appeared before
Judge Wade yesterday afternoon to set
tie their differences regarding the use OF
certain portions of the road built, and
now being operated by the cable peo-
pie.
The matter came up on petition
from the Electric company for an order
OF the court allowing them the use of the
| tracks of the cable company, and also
those of the East and West Los Angeles
Street Railway company.
The franchise granted by the council
gives the electric company right OF
way on Spring street from the junction
of Second north to the junction of Main
and Spring, and thence north on Main
to Marchessault. The company is now
ready to proceed with the construction
of their line on the portions of the
streets named and desires to use the
cable tracks.
The Cable company contested the
granting OF the petition, and set up that
under the state law no more than two
companies can occupy the same
street for O distance OF more than
five blocks. They held that the
franchises of the East and West
Los Angeles Street Railway company
and the cable company are stillin force,
the cable company operating the East
and West Los Angeles company under a
lease obtained from the directors, and
that in reality the electric people have
no franchise over the blocks named, as
it was beyond the power of the city
council to grant right-of-way while
two companies are using the streets, as
in this case.
The court called Judge Hubbell's at
tention to an amendment by the last
legislature which changes the law to
read that no more than two lines under
different management may occupy q
street for more than five blocks, etc.,
and remarked that the Pacific Railway
company is operating both the cable
and East and West Los Angeles roads,
and hence they are under one manage
ment.
Argument on this point was cut short
by the court stating that the question
| of the validity of the franchise could
not be decided upon the petition; that
the only thing before the ceurt was the
question of the amount to be paid the
cable people by the petitioner. An or
der granting the petition was made and
the engineers of the companies will cal
culate the costs and present the same to
the court for approval.
TRAFFIC MANAGER MELLEN.
G. S. Mellen, general traffic manager
of the Union Pacific railroad, arrived
here yesterday from Omaha, says the
San Francisco Examiner of Sunday, ac-
companied by Mrs. Mellen, and is at the
Palace.
Manager Mellen will remain here sew
eral days, and will tomorrow meet B.
Campbell, the freight agent of the
Union Pacific at Portland, and confer
with him on traffic matters. Mr.. Mel
len had talk yesterday with Third
Vice. President Stubbs of the Southern
Pacific, and also with Manager j. S.
Leeds of the new California Traffic asso-
citation. He knows Mr.. Leeds well, and
last night commended him as well-in-
formed man on freight matters and a
careful and useful manager.
He said that California had taken the
right step in getting skilled freight
man. "If more of the cities would do
what San Francisco has done," said he,
"they would be better off. That is what
this city should have done long ago. If
the people want to get low freights
they must get man who knows the
weak points of the railroads. think it
would have been better all around if
long ago the cities had engaged men
well posted as to traffic matters. These
know what they want and how to go
about to get it,"
Manager Mellen said he had little to
say regarding his trip, for it took in
merely routine matters in his depart
ment.
9"I cannot tell you anything about new
passes or old ones, or extensions, for at
present we are not contemplating any
extensions. Properly all this, however,
comes in Mr.. Clark's department. but l
may say that when we are not going at
present to lay the ties and rails on our
i graded extension from Portland to Ia
coma you will know that we are not
| thinking of building any new roads.
| "My impression is that it will be very
quiet in the west as to new lines for
about year and half. Worlds fair?
| On, no; not that, but people abroad are
not putting up much money for new
railroad enterprises"
NOTES.
The Southern Pacific officials yester-
day received word from Yuma that an
army of tramps were crossiog into Cali
fornia on their way to Los Angeles.
ANITA Pabst, young boy, had his
right foot crushed on Sunday while try
ing to board the north-bound Southern
Pacific train at the Los Angeles river
bridge.