San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-04-24
CONTRIBUTED SCRAPS.

Orleans, and sell the privilege to
street cars to run on the public
streets, for specified term Of
years. They should advertise for
bids for all franchises to street
railways.
Street railways are public con-
veniences, but they are also great
inConvenienees to the public. They
occupy at least half of the public
streets, in point of space, and they
seriously incOmmOde the travel Of
the streets. Foot passengers are
bound to keep a sharp look out for
street cars, every time they go
across a street, while wagons, bug
gies and carriages are daily OBJ
structed by the passing of street
cars, as well as exposed to the
risk OF being run into and smashed.
Street cars in the public streets
are derogations from the rights Of
the public to travel such streets.
The street car lines use the pub
lie bridges across the San Antonio
river and across the creeks in the
city limits.
The city ought not to allow any
corporation, whatsoever, to get the
upper hand Of, when it is granting
valuable franchises to 1t. Give
corporation an "inch and it will
take an clip. The street railways
do not keep their tracks and the
streets on a level, consequently,
hundreds of vehicles are annually
smashed in attempting to cross
the street car tracks. This con-
dition OF the street car tracks is
public nuisance.
The city, unless it has granted
the franchises to the street rail-
ways for a specified term Of years,
should pass an ordinance, that all
existing franchises shall terminate
on January l, 1897, and be sold to
the highest bidder, for the term Of
ten years. All franchises to restrict
railways should in future be sold
to the highest bidder.
One single street car line, in
New Orleans, has paid that city
$65O,000 for it's franchises. This is
a proof that the franchises are val
liable.
1t would essentially help San
Antonio, if she received 100000 for
her franchises to street railroads.
The wishy washy and hesitat-
ing course pursued by the admin
istration concerning the sewer con-
tract, coupled with the air Of mys-
terry and reserve thrown around
the affair, has ended in further
work on the sewers being enjoined
by one of our district courts.
The Mayor and the Council must
blame themselves for this unpleas-
ant condition of affairs. AS they
are but the servants of the public,
it was their imperative duty to
have explained fully the status Of
the sewer contract as well as to
have acted promptly and decided
ly in regard to that contract.
Nothing could induce them to
come out Of the haze of reserve
and mystery, and to vouchsafe a
full and frank explanation to the
public, which was daily growing
more clamorous for information
and light. They were deaf to the
demands of the public for light
and blind to the symptoms of the
impending storm.
The Mayor and Council provoked
as we'll as justified the obtainment
Of the injunction by their wishy
washy and unaccountable course.
Whether it was done Intention
ally or not, the Mayor and Council
acted in such a manner as to mys-
tify the public in regard to the
status Of the sewer contract, and
to arouse a suspicion, that where
mystery existed, there must be
something to conceal and cover up.
Every one Of the city papers
dwelt on the indeCision, reserve
and delay shown by the Council in
declaring that Hindry had for
feited his contract and in calling
on it to act promptly and decided
ly in the matter.
The city authorities would take
no action unless Hindry was per-
sonally present, and Hindry was
deaf to all their invitations ard
appeals. AT last, he sends letter
wherein he treats the Council with
insolence and contempt and bids
it defiance, but even this failed to
incite the Council to show OF
energy and decision.
Not one word was said at the
last Council meeting, about Hin
i..rnlnnt nrnL InfinIn .