Omaha daily bee., 1897-06-12

South Omaha News /.
RnTnSNeEnEoEsUeEnfEsMaMsMnH

Residents OF Bellevue are seriously consid-
ering the question OF issuing bonds to secure
street car transportation between that city
and South Omaha. Several conferences have
been held between a committee Of citizens
and President Murphy OF the Omaha street
Railway company, the Bellevueites receiv-
ing considerable encouragement. The plan
now being talked OF is similar to the one
considered by the business men OF this city
last year and provides for the extension OF
the line from Albright south into Bellevue
q distance OF a little over four miles. 1t Is
estimated that the extension can be built for
from $1,000 TO 81 500 per mile, which would
make the cost something like $1,000.
The village Of Bellevue is allowed by law
TO vote bonds to the amount of 10 per cent or
the assessed valuation. Last year the valua-
tion was about $4,000, so that an issue OF
Sc 900 in bonds could be voted should the
residents desire, which amount would be
given to the street railway company as a
bonus for building the line. The grades be
tween this city aud Bellevue are not as steep
as the Dodge street hill In Omaha and very
little difficulty would be encountered In eN-
tending the line as the main travelled road
runs mostly through a valley, the only
grades being the hill at Avery, aud the one
just north of Bellevue,
Within the corporate limits Of the village
OF Bellevue are 1850 lots. Five year bonds
would only increase the taxes 25 cents a
year. A total tax of Sl.25 per lot in five years
would pay the interest and principal, pro-
viding a sinking fund was created.
In order to vote the bonds 1t will be neces-
sary to obtain the names of fifty property
owners to a petition calling for special
election. Those who are behind the scheme
are confident that should the proposition be
submitted to n vote every taxpayer in the
village would favor 1t, The Bellevue people
assert that they would be satisfied with d
car making round trip every hour and
10-Cent fare.
A car line would be OF inestimable value
to the college as the attendance would be
increased, II is claimed. by fifty or 100 pupils
At present the trains run that a student
cannot get down to Bellevue until too late
to begin the forenoon studies, and the even
ing train leaves there several hours after
school Is out Business men at the village
assert that with the present train schedule
they cannot get to Omaha and return III the
same day.
outside OF the support such a line would
derive from the 600 residents of Bellevue
would be the travel to and from Fort Crook
where nearly 600 soldiers are stationed
1t is thought that the business men of
South Omaha would be willing to subscribe
to the bonus should the street hallway Off
cials refuse to extend the line for bonus
of $4,000 One merchant said yesterday that
he thought quite sum of money could be
raised here, as the Bellevue and Fort Crook
| trade would amount to considerable in the
course Of year Another reason why South
Omaha people should work with the Belle
vueites in this matter was the fact that If
left to itself the Omaha Street Railway COM
pany would build the line along the Thir-
| teenth street boulevard, thus leaving South
Omaha out entirely.
in few days to take definite action on the
matter.