Omaha daily bee., 1897-08-03

been In the city. lie also stated that he had
sent into the wards for nervous diseases in
st. Demands hospital a large number OF
private cases for care and treatment. He
predicts that If the month OF August proves
to be as hot as July the increase CT this
class of diseases will be very great, with a
corresponding increase OF other kinds OF dis
ease, especially fevers.
EXTEND FRANCHISE FIFTY YEARS.
New Lease of Life Given the Street
Railway and Bridge Company.
= At the regular meeting of the city council
last night the Omaha G. Council Bluffs
Street Railway and Bridge company was
given an extension Of it's franchise for a
period of fifty years from August 2. All
of the member present except Alderman
Casper voted for 1t, Mr.. Casper basing his
opposition chiefly on the question of defer
ring the passage of the ordinance for fur
Their consideration. All Of the members of
the council were present but Alderman At
kins. The matter came up Immediately after
the reading of the minutes. The ordinance
presented by the company was in the shape
Of an amendment to the old charter, the
gist being in the substitution of fifty for
twenty-five years, as the length of time for
the charter to run.
The ordinance was read and the twentieth
rule suspended, and 1t was passed to its sec
ond reading. which placed 1t in condition for
debate. George f. Wright made a brief
speech, stating the necessity for the eXtcn-
sion He said there was nearly $50 900 which
the company owed to Council Bluffs people,
and which must be paid. He showed that
there was a present indebtedness of sos 900.
In addition to this, the company must eXpeIl
many thousands of dollars to get ready to
handle the exposition business. He explained
the proposition made by the bondholders to
take $500, 900 of ffty-year bonds at 4 per cent
interest, which would make a total interest
charge of about the same the company is
now paying on its $3.50, 900 of 6 per cent
bonds. I'VE. have tried every means" said
he. Ito raise She money we now require with
out coming into the council and asking for
this extension, but have failed. We can't
sell q dollar of second mortgage bonds, and
cur only hope lies in getting the extension
that will enable us to accept the offer of The
bondholders to take a new Issue of bonds that
will provide funds for the meeting of cur
present obligations, and give us the money to
make the extensions and repairs Immediately
necessary
In answer to the suggestion that people
generally believed that the road was making
money Mr.. Wright declared that the COM
pany had never declared but one dividend
and that was only 6 per cent and the money
was borrowed with which to pay 1t.
Lucius Wells was called for by Alderman
Sayles, who explained that he desired to get
an expression of the feelings of business men
concerning the proposed extension. Mr..
Wells said ne could only say as a business
man and taxpayer that he felt that 1t was
to the business interests of this community
to grant the request. I'VE must admit,' he
said that this company has given us the
best street car service that can be found In
any western city. / want to see this splen-
did service continued. II this car service
Is crippled the interests Of Council Bluffs
will be crippled. Real estate will depreciate
and / believe that s5 per cent of all bust
ness interests of the city will suffer"
n-o,,uh A,lral ,hat 49, ,n ~
the stock was held by Council Bluffs people,
and II the majority Of 1t was not held in
Omaha, and II the property was not bonded
for more than 1t cost. Mr.. Wright ex-
planned that the bridge and lines, with the
equipment, cost $3.50, 900. Before the bonds
were sold Council Bluffs men put in several
hundred thousand dollars. The company
paid $50, 600 for the old horse car line. John
T. Stewart held one-siXth interest, T. j.
Evans had held one-sixth and Mr.. Wright
held a sixth. The company had paid Mr..
Evans $75, 900 for his interest.
Alderman Casper was still doubtful and
distrustful and thought the property was
worth at least 81, 500, 900.
A general invitation was extended to the
citizens present to give their opinions, but
none OF the others responded. Alderman
Metcalf moved that the ordinance pass to
its third reading. Alderman Casper sug-
gested that as an amendment that the COM
pany make a more liberal rate of fare on
coupon tickets. There was no further dis
cussion and the ordinance was put through
Its final stages and passed, Alderman Cas-
per alone voting against 1t. Immediately
after its passage Mr.. Wright filed a written
acceptance of the ordinance signed by Presi-
/ dent Wells and Secretary Charles T. Stewart.
Mr.. Wright notified the council that the
company would pay all expenses connected
with the publication Of the ordinance.
When the voting began, President N. w.
Wells, who had been a deeply interested
listener, arose and left the room and walked
back and forth in the hall below until he
was advised that the crucial period had
passed. He appeared to be deeply agitated.
He announced that he would go east at
once and close up the deal with the agents
for the bondhclders, and within sixty days
would begin the extensive repairs and addi-
lions contemplated.
The next half hour OF the council was de-
voted to the reading and allowance of the
regular monthly bills.
Charles Nicholson was elected milk and
meat inspector.
A man named Foster, who had been sued
about SIS, came before the council and de-
clared that he had not received the proper
notice, Collector Blood told an altogether
different story. and stated that he had in
tended TO ask the council TO remit the costs,
but would decline TO do so on account OF
the erroneous made by Mr.. Fos-
ter, and the council followed his suggestion,
Modern WoOdmen ana sunday.
The Southwestern Iowa Log Rolling asso-
citation is composed OF the Woodmen OF the
World and not the Modern Woodmen OF
America, as reported, and consequently the
latter branch of the Woodmen did not par
ticipate In the picnic at Manawa on Sunday.
The published reports that they had given
a Sunday picnic caused an Investigation to
be Instituted by the state officers. and Lewis
Roberts of Red Oak and George w. Pratt
of Rock Island, H., who are grand officers,
came TO the city yesterday for that purpose.
The ritual Of the Modern Woodmen of
America specially forblds Sunday picnics,
and the members and officers are making use
OF the incident 10 emphasize one Of the points