El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1897-09-20
RAILROAD WAR DANCE.
Two White Oaks Railr. 'ad Schemes
Before the CITY Council.

~AAS
Two White Oaks Railr.'ad Schemes
Before the City Council.
The CITY council met this morning in
sess; on to consider the pro-
posed franchise of the new White Oaks
Railway company. There was an ex-
ecutive session in the clerk s Office
by way of preliminary. There were
number of prominent business men
present at the council chamber hear
ing, and w. II. Burgess appeared for
the petitioners.
The executive session lasted twenty |
minutes, and when the council was
called to orderin special session. the
clerk reported an ordinance cancel
ling the water bouds and resolution
on granting a franchise to the FL Paso
& White Oaks r. r. company. Inc
latter read as follows:
To the city council of the City OF Ell
PasO:-Your ordinance committee to
whom was referred the petition of the
Ell Paso & White Oaks Railroad COM
pany, beg leave to report that it re-
commends that a right of way to be
fixed by the council be granted petit
TONERS upon its demonstrating by the
deposit of sum of money its ability
and intention to begin and complete It's
road in a specified time, and that the
COQSlOefdUiOu VI IuS hthOoS 70
postponed to enable it to furnish such
security of it's ability and intention.
w. M. COLDwELL,
Chairman.
ED. G. SCOTT.
A. M. ROBINSON.
There was unanimous vote in favor
of the report. Mr.. Burgess said be
would like to have some intimatlOu as
to the nature of the forfeiture demand
cd md no rinh nf
he we will know what TODD. The council
made demand heretofore made but
once in history of the city. The funds
for such an enterprise must be raised
in the east and some little time is need
ed to acquaint our correspondents with
the situation. We ask for only 60 days
| in which to begin.
Mr.. Clifford said he would like to
see tracks laid to White Oaks. Mr..
Burgess said this company means bus
mess and Judge Coldwell was willing
| to treat in gOOl faith.
w. A. Hawkins of Mr.. Eddy's COM
pany then appeared to address the
council, disclaiming any desire to
injure petitioners; but onl y asked the
council to do nothing to lpjure the in
terests represented by him, and that
they have spent much time aud money
in last two years in acquiring resources
whose ownership alone would warrant
the expenditures made. Mr.. Hawkins
recited the J. l.. Bell franchise which
| was disposed of to G.. b. Eddy on cond1-
ton of MIR. Bells Withdrawing entirely.
The latter speut $4,000 before he
ceased construction, and since then has
| expended $4,000 in acquiring pro-
perties through to which the road
would go. The newspapers have &C
quainted the public of the coming sue
cess of the scheme. For 30 days Mr..
Eddy has been ready to resume coas-
truction, but has been slightly delayed
in acquiring necessary proper
ties. This plan will be interfered
With by the Ha prGposi'0n receiT asi
delays which could not have been fore
seen. One hacker, banker, died sud-
| denly, and this necessltated placln g
| bonds elsewhere. Mr.. Hawkins had
lust been notified that that Mr.. Eddy
| will be here in two weeks. 1t Is unfOr-
tunate for promoters OF an enterprise
like this to have to show their hand
and thus forego acquisition to proper
they concluded quietly their move
ments We proposed, said the speak
err. to build the road, but did not want
to talk till re ady to build. When Mr..
Eddy and a number of eastern capital
lists went over the route last summer,
they we're satisfied it was good
scheme, but concluded to say no!hing
until ready to actively start in. All
these people are now infOrme d that an
o.her outfit proposes to do just what
they themselve were proposing to DO.
If they think a squabble is on they don
know whether they want to go GA or
not. You have said here you favor a
franchise, If the petitioners assure you
of their good faith in putting up a
guarantee of same. The imLocta Mt con-
sideration is the assurance OF actual
work. The speaker held this last
scheme was all got up in month, and
deprecated any acton by the city tend
ing to drive off genuine, serious
scheme MIR. Hawkins then read tele
grams from Mr.. Eddy, statipgef q
| proper franchise were granted he
would begin work in two weeks: also
that he mad sold the bonds and was
prepared 10 work Immediately. A mes
sage was read from Simpson & Wat
been sold at 70 per cent deposited.
MIR. Hawkins said: Now, 1 simply de-
sire to make that plain showing, SO
| you will see how you are pdttlng clu b
in the h ands of others to beat our
brains out with. Do not do it until
absolutely satisfied of their ability to
build. Then in reply to questions Mr..
Law 1nS SdlQ. WILL pun uP OOI oiAeo
check for 900 that we Will begin
| work within sixty days.
Judge ColdwelI tnen said, II you
put up the cash, [ for one will vote to
| give you your franchise right off; and
so will I,exclalmed Mr.. Clifford. Mr..
Hawkins, however, said he could hard
ly be expected to put $4,000 unless
MS interests were suitably protected ln
being left alone, and no c:uo be put In
hands of opposition Ito beat one
brains out with
| Mr.. Burgess held such contract as
Mr.. Hawkins implied was null and
void. Judge Colwell said If the money
was put up he could have franchise
| before shutdown. What time shall we
al journ top was then mooted.
| Mr.. Burgess here said, to the general
surprise that be endorsed Mr.. Hawkins
| position; but under the state constltu-
ton no monopoly could be granted.
The granting Of franc.se to MT;
Hawkins would nos interfere at all
| " it'll the Ell Paso 81 White Oak road.