Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-09-08
The Other Side.
Comments on Replacement
of Car Switch.
What the Interested Parties Have
to Say.

Since the subject of moving the
switch OF the electric railroad on
Commercial street between Ferry and
Trade from one side of the street to
the other is being pressed by the in
terested property owners, considera-
BILE discussion is aroused among the
people whose interests are liable to be
effected.
THE JOURNAL yesterday published a
statement of Mr.. Auson on the subject
and has today taken cor c,nsus Of
opinion of the property owners and
business people in the block immedi-
ately affected. These expressions are
undoubtedly based upon the statement
of the car company that II the switch
is taken up 1t will be removed to State
street.
The first person seen was Mr., Park
hurst, who declined'to talk, as be said,
because am an alderman"
But" persisted the reporter, "sup-
pose you we're not an alderman"
"But am, and that.ends it,"
Mr.. Bush, who own one-half the
interested block fronting CONNER
cial street on the east, made the fol-
lowing statement.
''The switch as 1t is now laid is
v thin less than twelve feet of the
curb in front OF our agricultural i'm
pliment building. Customers cannot
go there with their teams as Il car is
at any time liable to be run closely
along side of them. 1t is unnecessary
TO say that most country teams would
take fright, and run away IL they
could. The main track is considerably
east of the center of the street, so
much'sothat If the switch were moved
to the west side Of 1t, as required by
the company's charter, it would be as
far from the curb upon that side as
the main track Is from the curb on the
east side, Nobody would be incon.
Yenienced by that, and nobody upon
the street would make the least OBJ
lection. But the manager Of the road
says If he Is required to obey the or
der OF the council he will take
the switch of the street
altogether, and refuse 10 run
the most of the cars on that part
of the street. He talks as though the
franchise was private property and
the company had the power to do with
1t as 1t chose.
Whereas, lis quasi-pub.ic cor
poration, and the public have rights
In 1t which IL Is bound to respect,
and the council and courts have au-
thority over 1t which the company
must obey. Nor can the company af-
ford the loss of patronage which such
action will occasion 1t. Let any one
look at the premises and he will see
at glance that needless injury is being
done our property, that the remedy
we ask for will hurt nobody, neither
the road nor the public, that 1t is
simply the justice every citizen would
ask for himself under like circum-
stances. The threat of withdrawing |
the service from that end OF the street |
is idle. The franchise was granted |
that the public might have street car
service, and the company cannot with
hold 1t. The city has suffered IL to
disregard its contracts in other re-
spects, but 1t is not likely to let it be
carried to that extent. The company
is under express contract to paint the
unsightly poles which disfgure our
streets within six months after their
erection. How it has complied with
that agreement the poles bear wit
ness. Look at them"
Klinger & Beck who own the re-
naming half block adjoining Mr..
Bush's property, stated brlefly:-"It
better be let alone"
Westacott Il Ullery, lIverymen:-
"Don't move it,"
Herrep & Levy hopbuyers:-"We
care nothing about it,"
WOLF & Mlescke butchers:-"W
prefer TO have IL left as it is"
Mitchell, Lewis & Staver Co:-"We
are strictly opposed to moving the
switch"
Postmaster Hirsch, who own l04
feet on west side OF Commercial
street:-I don't want 1t changed.
geo, Matt:-HaYe. it left as il is by
all means.
Mrs. Rachel Jones:--l am well
enough suited now.
ii. M. Van Avery, fish market-I
l don't want 1t moved.
Gus Kaiser, shoe shop Don't want