The herald., 1898-12-11
A FRANCHISE Fight
TRACTION AND LOS ANGELES
COMPANIES WILL CONTEST
FOR eleventh STREET LINE
Manager Wood Asks for chance TO
Bid for the Franchise-Speclal
Committee Meeting

Five weeks ago, when w. S. Hook, man
.oer of the Traction Street Railway COM
many. petitioned the council to advertise 1oi
sale a franchise for a double-track street
railway on West Eleventh street, there were
no indications to warrant belief other 'han
that the Traction company would nave a
clear field and secure the plum. Undoubt-
edly with this end in view the company,
through its attorneys, urged the ooard OF d,
nublic works to recommend to the couhcll
that franchise be offered
Until Friday last these efforts were unsuc-
ccssful. owing to the alleged questionable
condition of the state statutes unoer which
the franchise could be granted Friday the
crowning effort was made by the company
and the residents of the neighborhood, who
are anxious to have street car accommoda-
tion. and victory was the result. AT the
meeting the board, through its chairman,
F. L. Blanchard. announced that 1t would
recommend the offering for sale OF street
railway franchise over the following route:
BEGINNING at the intersection OF Eleventh
and Georgia streets, running thence west
erly on Eleventh street to Sentous, thence
northerlv on Sentous to Eleventh street,
thence westerly to Hoover street
When it became known that the city :
councilmen or at least per cent OF them,
had at last overcome their fear or impression
that the three state statutes on the subject OF
franchise were conflicting, and it would be
wrong to grant permits under them, the Los
Angeles Railway company lost no time IN
commencing proceedings to extend Its line.
Yesterday T. w. Wood, general manager
of the Los Angeles Railway company, IN
type.written communication to the council,
which was filed with the city clerk, petitions
that body to have prepared an ordinance,
and advertise for sale, according to law,
franchise for an electric railway. This
rbute, which has its beginning at the inter
section of Eleventh and Figueroa streets,
goes westerly on Eleventh street to Sentous,
and then north to Eleventh street, and out
Eleventh street to Hoover.
1t will be noticed that this route is iden-
tical with that asked for by the Traction
company. with the exception that the Los
Angeles Railway company has asked for an
addition of two blocks, from Figueroa to
Georgia street. At present the Traction
company's tracks turn onto Eleventh street
at Figueroa. while those of the Los Angeles
company meet Eleventh street at Figueroa.
The district that would be accommodated by
and would in all probability add greatly to
the earnings of the successful bidder. For
this reason, and for others likewise as rea-
sonable, vigorous contest is looked for be-
tween the two companies. 1t is possible
that the council will order the city clerk to
advertise the franchise for sale. This, how
ever, is by no means certainty, as without
doubt the proposition will be objected to by
= Al : |, Il
that in granting franchise under the act of
March l3, 1897, which provides that the pur
chaser shall pay the city certain per cent OF
the earnings, the result would be anything
but satisfactory.
The Traction company seems to be the
favorite with the majority of the residents,
due, possibly, to the fact that that company
was the first to come to their aid. Should
the matter reach the point where bids are
asked for, both companies will enter the fight
to stay tA the finish.