The herald., 1897-03-09
PASADENA
Franchise 1atters Suffer More Postponement
News Brevities

PASADENA
Franchise Hatters Suffer More Postponement.
News Brevities
PASADENA, March S.-The city coun-
ell chamber was crowded with specta-
tors again this afternoon at the regular
meeting of the board, as 1t was generally
expected that the matter of the aplica-
ton of the Terminal railway for an cleo
trio road franchise would be settled at
this meeting. All the members of the
board were present excepting Trustee
Washburn. Mr.. T. e. Gibbon. repre-
senting the Terminal road, first address,
ed the board. asking for franchise be-
ginning where the present property of
the Terminal crosses Green street, on
Green to Raymond avenue. on Raymond
to Colorado, on Colorado to Euclid, on
Euclid to Villa. on Villa to Elm, on Elm
to Maple, on Maple to the city limits;
also on Los Robles avenue where 1t
crosses Villa street to Walnut, thence
on Walnut to the line mentioned on
Euclid.
Mr.. Gibbon read a letter from James
Smith, one of the largest property own
ers on both Union and Green streets,
saying he and many other property
owners would be glad to see the road
come on those streets, and that he would
like to see the street widened. Mr.. Glib
bon also quoted e. D. Howe and other
property owners on East Colorado
street who were favorable to the pro-
position of having double track on that
street, and all were anxious to see the
competing road come in.
Mr.. Gibbon explained that II had been
the endeavor of the Terminal not to
trench any more than was absolutely
necessary on the streets on which the
rival company has franchise; also to
meet as nearly as possible the desires
of property owners in regard to the To-
cation of the roads.
E. G. Webster then presented a writ
ten proposition to the board on behalf
of the Pasadena and Los Angeles COM
pany, offering to light the streets of the
city at the expiration of the city's pres
ent contract. IL the council will contract
with the company not to grant any
franchise for rival street railway over
the city streets. The company agrees
to light the city as we'll as 1t is iNhted
at present and to increase the number
of lights proportionately as the popula-
ton increases. Mr. Webster spoke at
length in support of his proposition, CIV
ing history of the building and opera
tion of the road.
Mr.. Webeter's plea was to the effect
that the men who had put their money
into this electric road would not invest
any further in Pasadena If their invest
ments were to be rendered non-paying
by reason Of competition. and he went
so far as to say that these gentlemen
did not invest their money in this road
for the prospect of it's being a paying
investment, but simply on account of
their love for Pasadena. He went on to
say that the road would be ruined If the
franchise was granted to their compe-
titors, and that If the proposition to light
the streets of the city was not legal his
corporation would see that it was full
filled to the letter just the same.
Mr. Gibbon, when he obtained the
floor, promptly assured him that 1t not
only was not legal but was not worth
the paper 1t was written on; that pre-
suming the present council was acting
In good faith, their successors would do
as they pleased about it. Mr.. Gibbon
evidently voiced the continents of the
citizens present. judging from the ap-
plause when he said that for the council
to enter into such a partnership with
the Pasadena and Pacific road would
be to shut the gates to all competition
and put the city at the mercy of a single
corporation In matter which was of the
most vital consequence to its future well
fare-more so than any other one thing
namely Its transportation facilities.
1t would be simply suicidal when there
are other sections adjacent to Los An
geles which aspire to occupy the place
now held by Pasadena in relation to Los
Angeles-that of Brooklyn to New
York. With improvement of San Pc
dro harbor and the building of the Salt
Lake road, soon to be commenced, Los
Angeles will soon be a city of a quarter
OF million, and If Pasadena Is to grow
apace she must look to her laurels and
encourage competition so that she may
have the lowest rates of fare and the
fastest time. Mr.. Gibbon thought that
the only way to get satisfactory terms
from corporation was by means of
competition, and as for the complaint
that the present electric road would be
ruined, he cited the well-known fact
that the same plea had always been
urged against competition, but never
theless there were three times as MANY
people travelling back and forth TODAY
as at the time the Terminal was built
Into Pasadena, and there would be more
and more as fast as better facilities were
AFFORDED, SO that both roads could do
WELL
Mr.. Metcalf addressed the board on
behalf of the Pasadena and Pacific COM
pany, saying that If this franchise were
granted 1t would simply mean one of two
theings-either that the present electric
road would go into the hands Of a re-
ceiver or into the hands of the Terminal
Mr.. Metcalfe brought in the same tao
ties used by Mr.. Webster, saying that
an attempt was being made to induce
the same gentlemen who had invested
In the electric roads to put up a tourist
hotel but II their investments were to
be jeopardized of course they would not
invest any further.
DR.. g. Roscoe Thomas then addressed
the board in favor of granting the fran
chise asked for by the Terminal. He
said he did not believe the time had ar
rived when Pasadena was ready to sell
herself out to any corporation. The
nA l. = ---f--
test of citizens as "a tempest In a tea
pot" but he thought there would be a
tempest indeed II the council should re-
fuse to grant q franchise, thus oftlcially