The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1896-09-23
MACY STREET FRANCHISE
No Reason Why the Work Of Track
a.
Laying Should Be Delsysdae41
Only One Slight Obstructionjn theWay,
and That Could Be Very Eas-
lily Removed.

The people on the East Side are deter
ing of the Macy street road, and also in
sist on an improvement of the service
on the Main street line. Mr., R,J Adj
cock, who was among those who spoke
at the meeting of the council Monday,
will probably appear before the board Of
public works Friday on the same sub
ject. In talking about the matter yes
terday, Mr.. Adcock said: II, Il ~,
THE franchise still has over six
months to run before it will expire. If
within that time 1t is found that the road
cannot be built, then additional time can
be granted. There is no reason why tee
work should be delayed; the only excuse
is that proceedings are pending for the
widening of Macy street. In fact, the
only obstruction on that street is small
matter Of about 175 feet, the land being
worth only $4,000, and the damage only
one-fifth of that sum. If the railroad Is
in earnest that obstacle could be quickly
overcome. While proceedings are be-
ing closed for the widening of Macy
street the company could proceed to
build the other end of the line and con-
struct the necessary bridges. do not
believe the company is acting in good
faith. Money talks. The company
should show their faith by their works.
II they have no money with which to
build, the company should step out of
the way and let other capitalists enter
the field and construct line through
this thickly settled and growing por-
ton of the city to the East Side park.
When their franchise was granted the
Pasadena road had no right of way to
the city, but through an illegal agree
ment in fraud of the rights of tie city
and the people an arrangement was af-
towards made with the Los Angeles
Electric Railway company to farm out
TO the Pasadena company the Buena
Vista street line. If such an arrange
ment could be made with one line It
could be made with any number.
The franchise cannot be extended by
resolution of the council only by ordi-
nance. An ordinance is requisite to
grant franchise and franchise can
only be extended by the same power
that gave 1t life. The extension is also
within ninety days of general election
and probably In violation of the act of
f,epruary 24th. 1893, of the general laws
or the state. The resolution attempting
to extend the time appears by the rec
ords OF the council to have been unanf-
mouSly adopted; yet the councilmen
from the first, eighth and ninth wards
and representing the territory affected,
were not present and knew nothing of
the extension of the franchise until af-
ter the session closed. The resolution
was not read in the council but only re-
1erred to by number in connection with
other routine matters, and all the pro-
ceedings show that an unfair advantage
has been taken of the representatives
or those wards in railroading said reso-
Il1finn vrrI, ~
cation of the agents of said corporation
by said dark and devious methods.
IN Justice to the large section of the
ely maj mas been clamoring for street
car facilities for years, hope the com
Gil VIII rescind the said resolution. com
pei this company to construct the pro-
posed line within the life of their fran
chlse or get out of the way and not con-
tinue as an obstruction to the growth
ana march of improvements towards
the East Side park and through one OF
city. ~ Liz