The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-07-06
TO CHANGE HANDS
STREET RAILWAY WILL BE EQUIP
PED BY A NEW COMPANY.

PED BY A NEW COMPANY.
President Batchelder Writes Mayor r os
That the Electric Light and Kaiiwa!
Company has Completed Transfer OF
Conditions-Wlu Put in New Tracks
New Cars and General Repairs, Calm;
for the Expenditure of Nearly so0,O0t
Present Service aud Equipment VERY
Unsatisfactory as Well as Dangerous
The following letter with reference L
the reorganization and re-equiprnent o
the city street railway lines was receiv
ed by Mayor Ross yesterday, which vii
De duly submitted 10 the city council
through the regular standing committee
heene, y. II, July IND, 1897.
Hon Finiay Ross, Wichita, Kan.
Dear Sir-As indicated by our talk;
with you and the members Of your city
government. We have, since leaving
Wichita, made some exerIion 70 dispose
Of the Electric Railway plant. We have
now completed a conditional trade with
w. F. Ellis, a man who went over the
property on his way east from Colorado
while We were on our way home. We
have informed him OF what your city
government was willing 70 do in the way
Of modifying the existing franchise and
our negotiations are based upon VIVA:
was talked there being accomplished. In
fact, the trade viii not go through IN
less those notifications are made.
Mr.. Ellis represents parties who will.
as quickly as the preliminary work is
done by way OF notifications OF the
franchise, ETC., for a new corporation, -
which this property will be conveyed,
and in an entirely new. modern, bonded
tack over the entire route now in Oper-
ton. and equip the road substantially,
with new, modern cars, and give just as
good a street railway service as can be
tad in any city in the country.
It has occurred TO US that II might De
regarded as an evasion of the Kansas
statute restricting the time for which a
franchise could be granted for twenty
years 10 amend the present franchise by
extending the time for which IL Is 70
run for seven years We have said
nothing 10 Mr. Ellis with reference to
this but mention the fact 10 you n ord
er that You and the city government
may understand that, should the city
solicitor think there was any question
about an amendment OF that kind being
properly made, we make no objection 70
repeal OF the present franchise and
-ent Of an entirely new franchise
IL NE purchaser. drawn in accordance
with the terms Of the present franchise,
as amended in reference TO the matters
brought before your city government.
Should the grant OF a new franchise be
regarded as the best method, please 10
understand that We have no objection
whs tever 70 me present franchise being
repealed
We have good reason 10 believe that
the l,arties with whom We are negotiat-
ing will carry though their undertaking
and put the railway in the condition
they say they will. To do II they will
have 70 put In large amount OF money
IN addition TO the small amount they
pay the parties we represent in thA,
purchase Of the plant. After putting il
.he amour, required, the rev company
Will, in its own interest, be compelled
10 give the best possible service in Or
der ID get a sufficient patronage 70 real
ize any fair return upon their invest
ment and. for that reason. allow US 10
suggest that. whether the present fran
chise be amended or a new one grant
ed. in eithe- event, that the city govern
men. avoid undertaking 70 place any
upon the road 10 such an ex-
tent as 10 cause them to hesitate about
putting in the necessary funds put
ling the read in order 10 do good serv-
ice In fact. il seems 70 Us that the
city can have no better protection than
the investment OF the necessary funds
by a company in putting the railway in
good condition. The doing Of that alone
warrants good service and that is the
only advantage 10 the city by reason OF
the railway.
We have done our best 10 bring about
this sale and trust that you viii extend
the same courtesies 10 the parties with !
whom We are negotia ting as you very
kindly extended 70 US while we were
there n reference to this disagreea5le |
matter.
Very truly,
A T. BATCHELDER.
The people OF this city have not been |
urduIly pulled up over the appearance !
DE- their street railway equipment Of |
ate. nor have they been carried away |
bv the character OF the service afforded. 1
The -shabbisst thing in Wichita. the 4,
greatest mar 10 the general appearance 1
of her principal uhoroughfares are those |
ane old weather beaten. Stacking cars. |
What with wires out Of line. high-cen- |
.ers, aow-joints, and crippled motors, |
there has been no telling when the next /
,ar would come along, or once aboard 4
when you would get there, il you got /
anywhere with whole limbs and kidneys /
Z, their proper positions. Such has been
he irregularity OF service and kind OF |
Equipment that people have largely TAX
N 20 wheels and heels. The patronage
las dwindled away under such circum-
stances. OF course. but not more rapid
Y than the service has deteriorated.
lnIy those forced 70 ride have had the /
,atience 20 wait or the necessary forti-
,,je 10 risk life and limb. He or she
, no lives but a block from line would
a ther strike out afcot than take the
.haacss OF walking a block or TWO 70