The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-02-14
STREET RAILWAYS.
The Matter of Franchises Discussed
Before the City Trustees.
Messrs. Gallatin and Livermore Ex-
plain Their Purposes-Their Old
franchise Withdrawn.


railway people before the City Board OF
Trustees yesterday. Acting City Attor-
ney Post opened the discussion of railway
matters by saying he had examined the
franchise asked for by the Sacramento
Power and Light Company, and found il
did not contain a provision, like the cid
one, which provided for tax of per
cent. on the gross income. This had
been left out of the new one. Also, tia;
there was no provision as to whom its
reports should be made. The company
were willing to arrange these points sat
isiactorily, and also some minor ones,
which he mentioned.
A communication was read from the
Central Electric Railway Company ask
ing the privilege of abandoning \ street
from Tenth TO Fifteenth.
II. z. Livermore addressed the Board
on the application for a franchise made
last week. lie said there were three
propositions properly before the Board.
First, the withdrawal of franchises here
tofore asked Tor; second, the relinquish-
ment OF the lines specified i'll the ordi-
nance presented last week; third, the
consideration of new lines. The COM
pany, recognizing the reasonable de-
mands OF the city, had amended their
application so that 1t specifically provides
Tor the payment of per cent. on gross
receipts, just as the old one did.
They also asked for change in the ap-
plication relinquishing the request for a
franchise on Twentieth street and asking
Tor franchise on Nineteenth street, from
q to ii, instead of on Twentieth street.
The company in all its requests had been
guided by the interests of the city, the
accommodation of the different sections
and the increase in the frequency OF
service. They would be glad If the board
would consider now the first two propo-
sltlons and dispose OF them, so that there
would be less TO consider at the next
meeting.
Mr.. Post said these franchises had been
eagerly sought for by the old company,
and the new one had bought the lines.
lie thought if the board took time to con-
slder the question they might deem it
eXpedlent To refuse, in the interest OF the
people, to permit the abandonment of
these lines. If this request be granted
now, it would render the chance OF future
competition by some other company
next TO impossible. There were also
questions which might be affected by the
new charter, and he was not sufficiently
familiar with it to pass upon them with
ont examination. He therefore hoped
the board would permit the whole matter
TO lie over, at least till the next meeting,
to give him an opportunity to do so. r.
). Carey had given a service of cars every
ten minutes, and Mr.. Henry, as soon as
he bought the horse-car lines, had ex-
tended it to fifteen minutes, there being
no competition. He thought the board
should act carefully in the matter.
MIR. Livermore said the question was
not generally understood. Competition
properly referred to price, and not to
service. They had studied public con-
venience, and made the service as fire.
quent as they could.
l.. l.. Lewis, of the Central Company.
thought the abandonment would leave
the streets as they were at first and free
for any company to ask for a franchise.
The Mayor thought there would be
nothing lost by weeks delay in action.
but the representatives of the company
could be heard on their proposition now
If they wished.
Albert Gallatin said the company had
amended its request by inserting a pro-
vision for the payment OF one per cent on
the gross receipts, which was identical
with that in Ordinance No. 302. The COM
pany proposed to extend the service on
II street, from Twentieth to Thirty-tirst.
There being an additional line to j street.
would give double service to Twentieth
on j. The line on Twenty-first to 2
street, with that on Fifteenth, and from
Tenth to Fifteenth on X street, would
give seven d-onehalf-miNute service
on X street, from Tenth to Fifteenth.
There would be three lines continuing
on j street, from Tenth down to the de-
pot, with q service every five minutes.
The cemetery, P-street and K-street lines
would give X street tive-minute service
below Seventh street. The company
would extend the Third-street road from
X to J, TO connect with the J-street road,
giving three minute and half service
from that point, and intended also to
make the line on Third street a double
one, and also on Second, so that car of
each line should always be waiting at the
depot. Transfers would also be given
from all crossing points to any other
points on any OF the lines, and he thought
the people would find that the company
afforded them better and cheaper serv-
ice than they could have with a compet-
ing company.
Fred. Cox stated that he had appeared
before the board once before, and that the
only objection the Agricultural Society
had to the Twentieth-street road was that
1t would impede the ingress and egress of
visitors to the park, by reason of the cars
standing in front of the gate.
Trustee Conklin believed it would be
better for the one per cent. to go into the
city funds, without specifying any par
ticular fund. He thought in fifteen wears
there would be no more bonds to pay.
Mayor Comstock thought that Sill
censes for each car was hardly enough.
and that SO would be nearer the right
figure.
MIR. Gallatin said the change the COM
pany offered was a benefit TO the CITY.
and the company was not asking some
thing for which they should pay bonus.
He thought Mr.. Lewis would bear him
out in the statement that the building of
the outside lines would lessen the rev
enue on the whole system to the COM
pany, and would be a public convenience
rather than paying proposition at pres
ent to the company.
I. Ii. Cook said the line from ] to X
on Tenth street, would incommode the
country teams and be damage to prop
erty-owners on that block.
on motion of Trustee Conklin. the
Sacramento Power and Light Company
was granted permission to withdraw their
application for a franchise made several
months ago.
Mr.. Gallatin asked if the board would
further consider the business, but on
motion of Trustee ConkIin the matter
was postponed for one week.
TOCOArOpTUU TvNhNEN,