The record-union., 1892-01-25
THE FREEHOLDERS.
They Make Some Further Progress in
Their Work.
Powers Of the Trustees in Granting
Franchises Amendments to the
Legislative Committees Report.

A general meeting of the Board of Free
holders was held on Saturday evening, at
which were present Messrs. Armstrong,
Cox, Hubbard, Hall, Johnson, LaRue,
Roberts, Simmons, Smith and White.
The chief purpose of the meeting was to
consider the report of the Legislative
Committee. Mr.. LaRue was chosen to
act as Chairman, in the absence of Presi
Gent Devlin and Vice-P President Green.
The report had been considered up to
Subdivision q, Section &c, relating to the
powers OF the Board of Trustees, and the
meeting proceeded to- consider the re-
1nainder of the report.
CONCERNING THE WATER SUPPLY.
Subdivision 26, empowering the board
10 provide the city with water and regu-
late the sale and distribution thereof, was
read, and Mr. White offered the follow
ing amendment:
Provided, however, that the city shall
always own, control, maintain and ope-
rate its own system for supplying water
to the city and its inhabitants, and the
Board of Trustees shall not have the right
10 grant such privilege, nor to lease the
water system to any person, company or
corporation whatsoever"
DR.. Simmons thought the prohibition
upon the Trustees was too strict. 1t
might be advisable at some time for the
~ to supply itself with noun tain water.
e thought the Trustees ought TO have
the right TO negotiate with companies for
bringing mountain water down To the
city.
MIR. White replied that the Trustees
would not be prevented from bringing
mountain water down to the city. They
could buy the water and control the sup
ply themselves. They could get mount
ain supply or a flow of artesian water. so
long as they owned the system in the city
The amendment was unanimously
adopted.
Mr.. Armstrong wanted Subdivision q,
providing for the care, feeding ana cloth
ing Of city prisoners, amended by adding
Il clause empowering the board to first
adopted.
LIGHTING THE STREETS.
Mr.. White offered a new clause, to be
inserted between Subdivisions 70 and 27(to
be numbered ~, giving the board the
power to provide for lighting the streets,
and for maintaining system of gas,
electric or other Illuminating works for
Lighting the streets OF the city.
Mr.. Armstrong and Mr.. Hall thought
he section ought to provide for lighting
the public buildings and offices, and Mr..
smith thought it ought also to include the
ghting of public grounds, such as the
plaza and other parks belonging to the
city.
The amendment offered was finally re-
Vised so as to read as follows:
TO provide for lighting the streets,
alleys, public buildings and public
grounds, and to provide that the city may
construct, own, control, maintain and
operate system Of gas, natural or other
wise, electric,o rotherilluminating works
Tor the purpose OF lighting the same.'
1t was at DIR. Simmons suggestion that
the word natural was inserted in con-
nection with the word gas He said
the directors had just let contract
Tor the sinking of new well, and if gas
was found 1t would be the cheapest thing
the city could use for lighting the streets.
The amendment was finally adopted.
PREMIUMS FOR RAILWAY FRANCHISES.
Mr.. Smith introduced new subdivis-
ion to be inserted between Subdivisions
81 and 81. 1t reads as follows:
To grant franchises for a term not exceed
i#G twenty-five years Tor the construction and
operation OF street railways on and along the
streets Of the city, upon the following terms
VIZ: Whenever the Board of Trustees shall
determine that franchise 10 construct and
operate II street railway along and upon any
OF the streets of the city should be granted the
board snail, AFTER Such determination cause
notice TO be published for ten days specifying
the route over ana along which II is deter
mined to grant such franchise and shall offer
10 grant the same to the person, company or
corporation that shall agree to pay TO the city
OF sacramento at the expiration OF five years
after the franchise is granted, and thereafter
snianuualiy, the largest per centum of the
gIoSS receIpt OF such road: provided that ali
granjs of franchises tor street railways shall
ne upon condition that single fares uuon such
roads shall not exceed five cents, and that
only such rails are of the most approved
PATTERN shall be made use of in the construc-
ton of the road The board NAV in the
granting OF such franchise, impose such fur
n of frng in
thereof as to the board may appear expedi-
ent, and the board may reject any and all
bids and refuse to grant any franchise for the
proposed route.
After considerable discussion it was
decided to postpone the adoption of the
clause until the next meeting. Some of
the members wanted time to think the
matter over.
At Mr.. Smiths suggestion the follow
ing words were added to subdivision 80:
ITO require railway companies other
than street railway companies either to
station fagmen or to place sufficient
warning signals and signal bells at such
street crossings as may be necessary"
RESTRICTIONS UPON RAILWAYS.
Mr.. Smith introduced the following
amendment as a new clause to be inserted
between subdivisions 80 and "a:
To grant franchises permitting any person.
company or corporation to lay and maintain
tracks and to pass with steam railroads along.
upon ana across or elevated above or placed
below any street OF the city, provided that the
free use of such street shall not be unneces-
Sarily INSTRUCTED thereby and provided fur
ther that any such franchise shall be granted
only after notice published for thirty DAYS
and by ordinance passed by the votes of not
less than six members of the board and upon
previous petition in writing Of the owners of q
majority of the front feet OF lands upon that
part OF the street 10 be so used Such grants
shall be without prejudice to the rights of
non-consenting owners TO compensation for
damages
Mr.. Armstrong thought it required too
much of railroad company that wanted
to come into the city. What the town
wanted was competition, and it would be
difficult for company TO obtain sigma
lures representing majority OF the 'front.'
age on q street
Mr.. Smith thought the property owners
along the streets had some.rights. They
might consider that track in front of
their residences would injure the value
of their property.
Mr.. Johnson took the same view of the
matter that Mr.. Smith did, but he went a
little farther. He thought majority OF
the signatures were not enough The
consent Of two-thirds of the property
owners should be obtained. He offered
an amendment to this effect. and it was
adopted. The entire provision as
amended was then adopted.
THE SALVATION ARMY Is SAFE.
Subdivision 80, empowering the board
to regulate all parades and professions.
and to determine what parades shall be
lawful, provoked serious and yet anus
ing discussion.
1T was stated that number of persons
had come to members of the Board of
Ereeholders and stated that they had
heard that the clauSa was inserted To y1ra-