The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-30
City Council Petitioned Against
Yesler Cable Line.
PROPERTY OWNERS COMPLAIN.
CAaPIes W. slater. 81 the Hill Estate.
the Prfne Mover-Drtage ut Eass-
ern Extremity Of Road Declared
Uasafe-Franchfse Calls for .
Double Track-Cnsightly Cars
and Anticipated Appliance Used.

An extensively signed petition for the
revocation OF the franchise held by the
Yesler avenue cable line will be presented
to the city council Monday night The
petition IS prepared al the instance OF
Charles w. Slater, agent Of the w. G..
Hill tract, on fes.er way. and alleges tina.
ne franchise calls fer double track: that
the cars AMI dummies should be OF more
improved pattern. with safer brakes. and
tina; the bridge crossed By the road and
located al Its eastern extremity is unsafe
The last contention is supported by the
report OF Civil Engineer G. II. Anderson.
which will be filed along with the pesi-
ton.
Number Of property holders along Yes
Ter Way are interested in the petition. and
a strong fight will be made On ii Monday
night IN the council. Superintendent Haas,
Of the cable line. when seen yesterday. said
thai he Ord net care to be quoted in re-
gard 20 wha; action would be taken By the
company, 1T is an Old matter" he said
and has been agitated several times be-
fore. and l am a little surprised at the
course rahens in this matter by Nr. Slater.
/ had not thought ne would carry the mat
ter before the council. though l understood
he intended 10 air the matter in the news
papers"
The petition 10 be filed Monday Is in sub
stance as follows:
Your petitioners respectfully show that
they are residents Of the city OF Seattle,
Wash, and patrons of the Seattle City
railway. more commonly known ana des.g-
mated as the Yesler avenue or Lesehi park
cable line Of railway, and tina, by reason
Of ordinance No Ss5 the said company WAS
granted a franchise 10 construct and OPP
crate its line OF railway over certain des-
ignated streets of this city. aud said or
d!nanee No. s.5, granting said franchise,
among other things provides
For double track on the road and
railway when the business and earnings
should Justify it. The business and earn
ings OF the road ard the travel thereupon
Dot only demand but make necessary 70.
the carriage and convenience OF the pub
&c double track, and IL would be justi-
fled and sustained by the earnings and bus
iuess OF the line.
And the ordinance further provided that
the cars and dummies should be Of the
most approved patterns and construction
for the comfort, convenience and safety
Of passengers. and should be provided with
brakes and all necessary appliances. The
cars and dummies used are OF an old anti
cnated and dangerous type, and In no way
provide for the safety and convenience OF
passengers. and the brakes are worn. bro
ken and bent. and have long ago sed 10
be useful. serviceable and safe.
The looks and appearance or the cars
and dummies are in appearance snch as
20 excite r!dcule and unfavorable COM
mont alike frcn citizens Of Seattle and
the many strangers who frequent the citv
on business and pleasure and give the city
the appearance of sleepy. Anticipated and
unenterpris.ng town.
LAS appears from the report Of civil
engineer employed 10 investigate its con-
dition. the bridge belonging to the COM
pany and located upon Yesler way at it,
eastern extremity. and over which all irav-
eers must necessarily pass In going To ane
returning from Lescht mark. e in such a
rotten and dangerous condition az 70 I'M
peril the lives of passengers and employees
OF the road. and 10 further continue to
conduct traffic over said bridge would haz-
ard many lives and amount 10 criminal
negligence"
The report OF the examination of the
bridge by Engineer C NJ Anderson, re-
ferrei to In the petition. states that this
bridge would probably render service for
some time with proper repairs; but a prop
eriy constructed bridge should take its
place as soon as It could be built" The
report goes on TO analyze the defects Of
the structure in full. He calls /: In one
place "a Aisjointed affair instead OF
we'll iontei ard strong bridge
Superintendent Hans says he considers
the bridge good ore and perfectly safe