Evening journal., 1897-08-25
W. 6 B. S. FRANCHISE.
A Whole Lot Of Talk, But
Chaos Still Reigns.
STREET AND SEWER NEWS.


SEWER DEPARTMENT LISTEN
TO THE PLEADINGS OF THE
WILMINGTON AND BRANDY
WINE SPRINGS RAILWAY COM
PANY-WEBSTER FAvORS "A
PROVISIONAL GRANT.
Franchise, franchise. That was the
main business before the Street and
Sewe. Directors at their meeting last
night, and the directors and the pro-
iectors Of the Wilmington ana Brandy
wine Springs Railway Company are
still beaChed as to the granting of the
railway franchise. w. S. Hilles, attor-
ney for the Brandywine Springs Rail-
way Company, was before the board
and made a plea to the directors for
the granting of some rights to the COM
pany. But it was the same old story, a
whole lot of talk and nothing accom-
plished. After little preliminary
skirmish. with some business thrown
in Mr. Hilles, in his piccadllly style, ad-
vanced toward the table. at which sat
the directors, and said: Where are we
at?" The expression had somewhat Of
a political dip" but it suited the occa-
sion, and the old adage used so vehe-
mently by the Republicans in the last
campaign pleased Mr.. Simmons, who
chuckled all over. II would like to
know" said Mr. Hilles, where the
Wilmington and Brandywine Springs
Railway Company stands.
Mr.. Simmons said that he did not
10 off ~
but owing to the pressure of business.
he did not have the talk with Mr. Con-
rad that he desired There are two or
three points which have been brought
to my knowledge. and these | desire 10
have clear before giving any decision,
Mr. Simmons said.
Mr.. Hilles said that he wished tC
deny the newspaper rumors that were
going about concerning the selling oui
of the road and the selling Of the stock
to subscribers. "If we cannot get into
/ Wilmington" said Lawyer Hilles, "th'
road will not be built. II matters arr
to be left as they are the franchise il
worth nothing. The Wilmington CITY
Railway Company is a great big buga
boo, and the letter which that company
sent to the directors at their last meet
ing, against the Wilmington and Bran
dywine Springs Railway Company, wa
a remarkable piece of work. Tha
company has been using that letter 70
the past fifteen years. II was use
against the Wilmington and Brandy
wine Springs Company at the meetin
of the Legislature. If we can say
; money for our stockholders by enterin
into a traffic agreement with the Wi
Nn..HI THa.t. tra
would be willing to do so. There shoul
be no discrimination against the VIII
mington and Brandywine Springs Rail
way Company. It's a public improve
ment and every citizen wants to see tn
road built The whole enterprise rest
upon you in allowing us to get termi
nus in the city OF Wilmington
Mr.. Webster then asked Mr.. Hilles
any agreement had been made with tn
Wilmington City Railway Compan.
None" said Mr.. Hilles. $50 long a
our road has no right in the city {
+ Wilmington we have no business to en-
ter into an agreement with the Wi
migton City Railway Company An
+ other line on Sixth street would be tn
only inducement for the Wilmingto
City Railway to enter into a traffi
z agreement
Mr.. Simmons then said: "Mr. Hine
> will you allow me 10 ask a que.
tion?"
YES" replied Mr.. Hilles, 81 will
5 verv glad to-"
4 "The charter Of your company" sal
Mr.. Simmons, gives you the right
construct a road from Brandywir
. SPRINGS to Union street. then to n
nearest line to Greenhill avenue
v SIKH street. l cannot see how the lin'
e Of the Wilmington and BrandywiI
Springs would strike the nearest pcil
K Of the Wilmington City Railway Con
2 pany by going to Sixth stree al
n Greenhin avenue City Solicitor Col
/ rad called my attention to the chart
= of the Wilmington City Railway Cor
= pany, which says that 1t has exclusi'
" right of streets"
'iWho owns the streets?" asked NJ
Hules. "the Wilmington City Railwi
l. Company or the Street and Sewer I'D
j. partment?'
is Mr.. Simmons said ehat he often as
cd that question himself.
/. Mr.. Hilles said that the amendme
to the Wilmington and Brandywi
Springs Railway did not make it ne
l. essary for it to meet the Wilmingt'
t. City Railway Company at any point.
#. Mr.. Hilles continued "The matt
lc must be decided by the courts. II
o. Wilmington City Railway Company
y rash enough to tempt the Street al
Sewer Department 20 do it. The m
. who have advanced the capital for u
enterprise stand ready to indemnify Q
- Street and Sewer Department, but 4
N place to settle this 'exciusiveness' is
~ court" He said that he was willing
argue the matter before the board.
we have no right 10 build this roa'
Mr. Hiles went on TO say, "and you
rectors so decide, we will start II a
way. and the Wilmington City Railw
,e Company can get an injunction, a
y, then 1t will be brought before the cou
4. We stand ready to protect the city, a
BE- will file a S250,000 bond for our go
faith in the matter. The question "
e. never be sebtled by the court, and
lawyer that wrote the letter to yc
body knows this well.
IF the Wilmington City Railw
Company is going TO continue to ma
70 objections inside and outside TO
improvements in the city Of Wilmii