Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-05-16
ASKING FAIR PLAY.
The Owners of the Salem
Street Railway
THINK ELECTRIC HAS FAVORS ENOUGH.
A Full Statement of What
They Purpose Doing.
THINK ELECTRIC HAS FAVORS ENOUGH.

Saturday THE JOURNAL can
vassed the members of the council
upon the question of granting the
electric street railway a franchise
on State and Twelfth street, along
side the horse car line,
The propelty owners of State
street seem to have been moved to
sign the petition for the electric by
the fear that if they let the electric
line go to the depot on Ferry street,
it will end in their having no street
car line on State street. Conversa-
ton with a number of them shows
that they do not care for mDre than
one line on that street if they can
have good service. The council
should be slow to place a second
street car line on any prominent
street if the public service does not
actually demand it.
Following is the view good citizens
of Salem take, who have had their
money in the horse car line for some
time and who have carried that
property through litigatlons and
who are now putting their shoulder
to the wheel to preserve for the city
the benefit of competing system:
A FULL STATEMENT.
The men who have signed petit
ton to allow an electric line a fran
chise right by the side of the other,
Oh State and Twelfth street, were
once owners of the horse car line.
1t was then a satisfactory line, a
great thing for the town, etc. How
ever, they made no move to electrify.
1t was satisfactory as a horse car line.
But as soon as somebody else gets
in they want it electrified the next
day. AS a matter of fact, the present
owners have had it but short time.
By late decision of the court they
have now the absolute ownership of
the track and barn, but part of
the rolling stock is still in litigatio n
and will be until after the June
court sets. These being the facts
in the case, it is hardly fair busi-
ness proposition to attempt to make
the line trouble at the present time.
Mayor and council have talked of
the great value of these franchises.
Citizens of Salem have put money
into the line upon these representa-
tons, hoping in time they would get
it back. Other citizens of the town
n order to encourage home industry
and help build up the town have
loaned money upon it. What will
be the effect if this request of the
electric line is granted? The
present owners Of the horse car line
are progressive, enterprising citizens,
as much SO as any men in the city.
They are men who have the interest
of the city at heart. They are not
men who will sit down and be con-
tented to run for any length of time
an inferior line in this city, but they
have jLst become owners Of the line,
in fact, not fully so yet, as above
stated, and in the present condition
of the money market, it takes
time TO make these changes
If the franchise asked for by II e
horse car line had not been vetoed
by the Mayor, we believe before this
that a quick and satisfactory service
would be in operation upon these
lines today. Men have already I.
been hired to put the present horse
car line and track in first class shape. |
Time cards have just been gotten
out, drivers wages have been raised. |
The company has q large number
of fine horses that ire in splendid
and a first class horse car
service will be furnished until such .
time as arrangements can lie made
for putting on swift motors, or for
electrifyIng. Can you honestly and
in fairness ask any man to do NOR
At the next session Of the council 4
right will be asked to put on new
motors, the same s. Albany is put
ting upon her best streets, to run be-
tween the fair ground and Cheme-
keta street. If this right j. granted
which We believe it will be, the