The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-14
LOOKING INTO FRANCHISES.
ROSS SCHEME AND YESLER WAY
PETITION BEFORE COUNCIL
Navin ard Chapman Opposed 10 VI"
ing the seattle Construction Com
pany Fifty Year Francnise-
Think IL Is Very bad Policy.

There was an important meeting OF the
city council in committee Of she whese yes
teriay afternoon. and although no dsnhi's
action was taken. yet two measures III
which the city AT large is vitality interest
cd were presented for discussion one Ok
them. the Ross franchise, was referred
to special Subcommittee ZOE
fuller investigation. The ether 1"e
application Of the Seattle Consfrnc-
ton Company for franchise looking 10
a rebuilding of the present Yesier way
street car line with a double track 10 the
| lake and return, as already reported IN the
Observation-Disclosures, was discussed inior-
mally. but went over without far1hee
action until the next meeting OF the com
mittee of the whole, which Chairman
Rudy stated last night would prooapS
be on next Tuesday.
The proposed ordinance granting 10
Frank C. Ross certain franchise privileges
and rights looks, as is now generally I'M
darstood. TO the construction OF line OF
railroad from this city to Tacoma ana
thence TO Portland. The first section OK
the ordinance provides that there Dc
granted to Frank c. Ross. his associates
successors and assigns, the right and au-
thority in. along across, upon and over
the portions of the streets. avenues and
alleys hereinafter fully described, 10 To-
cate. construct and lay down. upon. along
and across such streets. avenues and al
leys a standard gauge railway, consist
ing Of one or more tracks, and thereafter
to maintain and operate said railway up
on the conditions prescribed in this ordi-
nance.
The route TO be pursued and the condi-
tfons on which the franchise Is asked have
already been printed in full IN the POST
Intelligencer The whole matter was yes
terday referred to subcommittee. con-
sisting OF Rudy, James and Taylor.
No motion was made concerning tho
Yesler way line but there was an ami
mated informal discussion. in which Navin
| and Chapman spoke against the franchise.
on the ground that the road as It now ex-
lists has not lived up ii the terms of its
present franchise. s. FL. Piles. who APP
peared for the company, presented
strong argument in behalf OF granting the
franchise dealing with II. as he said, pure
ly as business proposition. As against
DR. Chapman's position he contends that
the road has lived up to the terms of It's
franchise and read from that instrument
TO show that the road had been authorized
to operate single track until business
justified Il In laying double track. Mr..
PiIeS argued tHRI the pTtStIt Todb Adu
cost its owners many times the value OF
the line: that now they were willing to
put in $50 oc0 most of which would he
spent In Seattle. in order to keep from los
ing all that they had already put into the
road He showed that for the next fifteen
years which the present franchise has to
run the city might not derive a cent OF
revenue, where as under the terms of the
franchise asked for. 1t would get per
cent
Navn and Chapman were opposed to
granting a franchise for so long a period
as fifty years. and doubted whether under
the charter the city had the right 10 grant
a new franchise within three years of the
expiration OF the old. Mr.. Piles gave as
surance that the company would under
take to defend the legality OF the new
franchise without expense to the city. and
contended that the three-year limit In the
charter was Illegal and void Navin
thought 1t unwise for the city, IN an age
to scientific progress. TO grant franchise
fixing rates Of fare ard the like, when
fifty years hence the purchasing power OF
money might be far greater than now
and street car fare should be 2 cents in
stead OF 8.
BY this time the meeting Of the tide land
owners was ready to convene, and the
matter OF the franchise went over, subject
to the call Of the chairman.