The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-01
ROW OVER A STREET RAILWAY
PRESIDENT JOEL HURT AGAIN
STIRS Up ATLANTA.

In Order 10 Dodge Paying the Roads
Pro Rata of the Cost of Paving
Two streets. He Tears IN the
Tracks-The work begun During
the Night and Police stop Opera
lions when the People Discover
what Is Going On.
Atlanta. Ca. Feb. 29.-The Consolidated
Street Railway Company. against which
the whole town was mp In arms during the
exposition. on account Of its action in
raising the rate OF fare TO the exposition
grounds to double the customary price,
and thereby seriously threatening the sue
cess of the big show. on account of the
many reports of gouEing that We're based
upon this act, and sent broadcast over
the country. is again the storm center Of
public indignation.
This time the omenses committed against
the public by President Joel Hurt of the
Consolidated Company appear to be Of
a much more serious character than the
doubling of fares during the exposition,
so far as the consequences to the COM
pany are concerned. The company is al
legged to have wantonly violated ordinances
that will subject it TO heavy fines at the
hands of the city government if parts
of the franchise enjoyed by it are not re-
voked
The Consolidated Company owns prac-
tically all the valuable street railway
franchises of the city. and by taking an
active hand in politics the management
has for several years past been able TO
have everything its own way in dealing
with the city fathers. When other com
panies have been formed for the purpose
of taking up new territory the ConSOl-
dated has always succeeded in having
their petitions for franchises turned
down by council. This same influence
has been exerted in the paving of streets
and the making OF other permanent I'M
proVements which affected the interests
of the Consolidated company.
Under the law, when street is to be
graded or paved. the street railway com
Danv using it is compelled to bear it's
pro rata share of the cost. The CONSOLE
dated Companys policy has been TO OPP
pose all street paving to the bitter end.
and except in rare instances has usually
carried its opposition to success.
Several days ago, however. the street
committee of the general council passed Ia
vorably upon the petitions Of the residents
of Capitol avenue and Auburn avenue TO
have those streets paved with asphalt.
They are two of the most prominent thor
oughfares in the city and sadly need the
paving for which the property owners were
willing to bear their pro rata share of the
cost. in fact they have been clamOring for
the privilege of doing so, but could never
overcome the opposition of the CONSOLE
dated Company before.
Final action in ordering the work of
paving to commence will come up be-
fore the council on next Monday.
Realizing that the council would adopt
the report of the street committee, which
would compel his company to invest a
few thousand dollars in the new improve
ments, President Hurt determined TO de-
feat the property owners by bold move.
Accordingly after midnight last night he
set a large force of hands to work tearing
up the tracks on both Capitol avenue and
Auburn avenue, and this morning at day
light when the residents of those streets
arose, they found themselves with
out a street car line IN
front of their doors. The police were sent
for and the workmen who were still en-
gagged in tearing up THE tracks were ar
rested and forced to stop. President Hurt
sent a second force, however. when he
was notified of the arrest of the first de-
tachment, but they We're also stopped by
the police, though not until the tracks on
both avenues had been destroyed for
half dozen blocks
President Hurts purpose in fearing up
the tracks was TO abandon the streets, and
by getting into litigation over il, defeat
the laying of the asphalt pavements.
The property owners of the two streets
held an Indignation meeting during the
day, at which President Hurt was de-
nounced in the strongest terms. Some of
the indignant citizens proposed tearing
down the trolley poles along the
line and making a bonfire of them in
Great indignation was manifested among
all classes of citizens
Tonight mass meeting of the residents
of the two streets affected was held in the
city hall The council committee on street
railways was convened and listened to
the indignant citizens, and at the conclu-
sion of the meeting passed a resolution
recommending that the council, when it
meets on Monday, order the Consolidated
company to put Capitol and Auburn ave-
nues in the same condition in which they
were previous TO the tearing up of the
tracks, within forty-eight hours, or have
the franchises on these lines revoked The
revocation of these franchises would be a
serious blow to the company, as they both
penetrate the heart of the city.
President Hurt had agreed to be present
at the meeting tonight. He did not show
up before the offended citizens, however
but sent a letter saying that he would have
his say to the council on Monday.
1t is claimed that President Hurt has
laid himself liable to criminal prosecution
and the feeling against him is so high that
II this is so he will be closely pursued.