Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1892-11-15
TO SETTLE ALL TROUBLES
THE CITY AND THE STREET
RAILWAY COMPANY.
A Proposition Made to the BOARD
by superintendent Patton and
a Committee Appointed to Con
aSE

By superintendent Patton and
a Committee Appointed to Con
slider 1t.
A special meeting of the Joint Board of
Aldermen and Advisors was held in the
Recorders Office at 1880 today, at
tended by Mayor Blanton, Advisors
Cummings, Bearden, Miller, Williams
and Hunt, and Aldermen Starnes. Nc
Dowell, Leonard and Baird.
The meeting was called for the pur-
pose of hearing propositions from Capt.
7. W. Patton, the new superintendent
of the Asheville street railway, looking
to a settlement of the differences that
have existed between the company and
the city for months past. Capt.
Patton prefaccd his proposition with
the remark that war is better than
peace, and expressed the hope that the
city and the company might come to
some agreement whereby the paving of
the city's streets might be pushed. He
referred to the suits now in the courts,
especially the one in which the city asks
permission from the Supreme Court to
institute suit against the company for a
forfeiture of its charter. If the CITY is
successful in this motion, Capt. Patton
said. it means another long and tedious
| fight in the courts. 1t was his desire, as
well as the desire OF Receiver Maddux, to
stop as nearly as possible all the suits
now pending.
Capt. Patton proposed that both par
ties stop all suits; that the costs so far
in the suits be paid by the parties insti-
tuting the suits, and that the city pro-
coed with the paving between the tracks,
doing the work itself and charging the
company therefor; the amounts to DC
paid by the company in such install
ments as the Board might fix upon.
Capt. Patton said Receiver Maddux
realized the company's liability for the
paving between the rails, but according
to justice and equity he did not think
the company should be made pave cigh-
teen inches on either side of the track.
So far as he (Capt. Patton) was con-
cerned, he would be willing to make up
case agreed on the g inch question, to
be submitted to the Supreme court, but
Mr.. Maddux desired to operate the lines
without hiring lawyer, il it were pos
sible to do so.
Mr.. Cummings asked Capt. Patton il
the Board might not be held responsible
by the people if il should waiye the 49,
inch clause of the Act.
Capt. Patton replied that had faith in
the people of Asheyille and did not be-
lievc the Board would be held response
bic in this case. Speaking of the
Patton avenue extension Capt. Patton
said he did not know Mr.. Mad
dux's plans, but so far as he
was individually concerned, he would
rather not see the track put back on the
avenue. He referred to suggestion
made in THE CITIZEN few days ago, as
to the running of the line over West Col
lege and in rear of the government build
ing and thence to Patton avenue, as a
possible way of obviating the necessity
OF replacing the Patton avenue track,
provided that amicablc arrangements
could be made with President Carrier OF
the West Asheville and Sulphur Springs
company.
When Captain Patton had stated his
case, Mr., Cummings moved the appoint
mcnt of a committee of four, to consult
with Messrs. Maddux, Patton aud Car
ricr. to endeavor to agree upon some
basis of settlement of the question. This
motion carried, by unanimous vote, and
Mayor Blanton appointed Messrs, Cum
mings, Williams, Leonard and Starncs
on the committee.
This committee held consultation
with the gentlemen named this afternoon
and will make report to a special meet
ing of the Joint Board tomorrow at 10
a, M, which meeting every member is
urged to attend.
The case in the United States court has
been postponed to await the action OF
the Board, and if the company's propo
sition is accepted the suit will be quashed