The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-25
THE JOINT SESSION.
street Railway Franchise Granted -
Street Improvement Postponed.

For some reason the council showed more
nervousness IN joint session than in either
separate branch. The bid OF the Seattle
Consolidated Street Railway Company for
Its Fifth avenue extension was granted,
and there definite action ended The Joint
resolutions for the repianking of three of
the most important streets In the city were
taken up, but a motion to adjourn left
them suspended in midair
As soon as Clerk Coryell had finished read
ing the minutes. he held up big sealed
envelope and said:
Il have here a bid for a franchise to con-
struct street railway from Pine street
along Fifth avenue north TO the intersec-
ton of Depot street. Fifth avenue and VIII
low street
Open it, said President Daulton.
The clerk, having first submitted a GER
tfcaie of publication OF the call for bids.
opened and read the only bid received Ii
was from the Seattle Consolidated Street
Railway Company. NJ. F. Backus. receiver,
and offered 800 for ifty-year franchise
for an electric railway along the prescribed
route. II was accompanied by certified
check for $40. and was promptly accepted
by viva Eoce vote, only one faint No
being heard.
The joint resolutions for planking Main
street, First avenue south and Occidental
avenue were taken up. but before consid-
ering the necessary ordinance the council
resolved 10 hear the estimates OF CITY En-
gineer Thomson. which were as follows.
Main street, from Railroad avenue to Fifth
avenue south, property owners portion of
assessment $40. city's portion 1925 total
S3.ll3, First avenue south from Washing
ton TO King street property owners 81 80.
city Se2o, total $50; Occidental avenue,
from Iesler way 10 Jackson street prom
erfy owners $500, city $3.50 total So $50
City Engineer Thomson made a brief state
meht about the three streets. and answered
several questions, stating among other
things that while March and April are usu-
ally bad months for work vet bad weather
would not interfere so much with planking
as with brick work
Miller thought Il would be unwise to at
tempt 20 plank First avenue south as II
was soon to be torn up by the Great
Northern, or. as he said, by Mr.. Hall, and
the fact that no one smiled showed that
the council has become converted to a be-
lief In Mr.. Hills intention to go 10 work.
Miller vas in favor of the proposed work
on the other streets. City Engineer Thorn
son made rather a droll statement that
OF course il would be possible 10 sprinkle
more ashes on Commercial. or First ave-
nue. south. and thus "go through on ashes"
as had been done last winter Compton
thought that the street ought TO be plank
cd on account of the heavy hauling which
ttae no otnef possible highway. Miller
thought the other two streets had the same
claim. Anderson pleaded for Main street
for the sake of The fro ems ines.
But motion 10 adjourn was put and
carried while Clerk Coryell was stii hold
Ing the three estimates in his hand AS
soon as the house had resumed its sepa-
rate session, the clerk asked srnilingly
what was 10 be done with the papers This
precipitated an irregular discussion, for
without any motion before them various
members began with one accord 10 make
excuse for having agreed 10 an adjourn
ment. each speaking as II the council were
stll IN joint session. James thought that
Occidental avenue could be filed and roll
ed down. Gleeson thought II this were
done The people would be rich enough by
next summer 10 pave Kistler pleaded for
immediate work on Occidental avenue. and
declared the city ought TO have at least
one street in The south end Of the city
fitted 70 sustain heavy traffic.