The herald., 1896-07-20
Will Again Come Up in the
Council Today
ANOTHER OBSTACLE RAISED
The Davies Franchise Is Now Said to
Be 10 the Way
It Be Declared Null and Forfeited.
The Facts In tho Case

The people Of Boyle Heights interested
in securing branch Of the traction sys-
tenn out Fourth street. do not propose
to let the enterprise drop. and today the
following numerously signed petition
will be presented in the council by Coun-
Gilman Blanchard of the Ninth ward:
I'VE, the undersigned. earnestly desir-
ing the construction Of an electric rail-
road over East Fourth street and other
streets to Boyle Heights with branch
on Wolfskill avenue from Third street
to reach the Southern Pacific station at
Fifth street, and meeting in the effort to
obtain a franchise for said electric rail-
way, the claim that there are now on
that part Of Wolfskill avenue. before
named, two existing franchises operated
under separate management, which
claim we believe to be totally without
foundation and supported only by the
evidence Of one car drawn by horses
every half hour over the rails of the Los
Angeles Railway company and for the
sole purpose of blocking great and
beneficial public enterprise.
Nov, therefore, we respectfully petit
ton your honorable body to declare the
said alleged franchise known as the
Davies franchise. ordinances No. AZ and
No. 2S2, forfeited and void to the end
that the Boyle Heights claim may go
forward without further delay or OBJ
struction.'
1t was thought at one time that the
whole matter was virtually arranged,
and that by this time the work Of con-
struction would be fairly under way.
The property owners had raised bonus
Of SIS, 900 in cash, right Of way had been
secured, and the plans for 1850 foot
viaduct to carry the road over the Santa
Fe tracks had been prepared. Applica-
ton was made for the franchise, and 1t
was duly advertised. A little joker had
In the meantime been inserted in the
franchise, requiring the successful bid
der to build and operate the road on the
east side Of the river before doing any
thing on the west end. Owing to this
proviso, the Traction people declined to
bid and ex-Mayor Workman, to keep the
a bid for 5000 on his own account. No
opposition was anticipated, but when
the time came for opening the bids, 1t
was found that there were two other
bids, each one of which was higher than
Mr.. Workman's. These BIDS, 1t Is
Consolidated Electric Railroad COM
pany, and further complicated matters.
In case either one,of them should have
been accepted 1t would tie the franchise
UP for at least eighteen months under
the state law, and the promoters of the
Traction scheme began fighting for time
The council deferred action, and ex-
Mayor Workman went to San Francisco,
where he had an interview with Presi-
dent Brown of the Consolidated com
pany. That gentleman said that his
company had no intention Of building
out Fourth street, and Furthermore that
he had no knowledge of a bid being put
| in on their behalf. On the line proposed
| 1t was necessary to get the consent oi
private owners for right Of way, the
principal ones being Messrs. Workman
| and Jacoby and the Southern California
Railway company. This consent hal
never been asked by the bidders and
when these facts were laid before the
council, all Of the bids were rejected.
The Traction people at once went about
again working up the matter, when they
were confronted with another complica-
tion. Under the state law, it is pro-
vided that not more than two franchises
shall be operated under separate man.
agements. on the same street, and 1t Is
now claimed that as the Davies line, a
horse car line, and the Consolidated cleo
trio road are both on portion of Wolf
skill avenue. this cuts out the Traction
company. On the other hand, those who
want the Traction company to secure
the Fourth street franchise insist that
there is but one management, the elec-
trio company having absorbed the old
Davies depot road. At any rate they
want to get chance to have the matter
tested at once. and Councilman Blan-
chard will probably start the ball roll
ing this morning