The herald., 1898-07-06
PASADENA AT LAST GRANTS A
FRANCHISE
THE VALUE OF COMPETITION
San Gabriel Traction Company Also
Wants to Come ink. of P. Officers
Elected-Brevities

fought so long and vallantly. The council
room was crowded when the meeting was
called to order, and bystanders, several
layers deep, assembled in the doorways.
L. G. Webster addressed the board, saying
that he had talked with President C. w.
Smith Of the Los Angeles and Pasadena
Electric company, and they had two prop
ositions to make to the council in behalf of
their road. One was to sprinkle the streets
along which the cars run in the city, the
city to furnish only the water therefor.
The other offer was to make the fare in
side the city cents, or sell six tickets for
% cents. Mr.. Webster hoped the board
would see fit to consider these propositions,
and he reminded the board that his conf
pany would continue to pay into the treas
ury Of the city $1,000 per month If the Ter
minal franchise was not granted.
G. II. Frost spoke in half-humorous, half
earnest terms of the Terminal and the ter
rible affection the monster with the great.
flaring bull's-eve" would be to Euclid
avenue residents, who, Mr.. Frost said,
''were here looking at YOU" The present
road offered the city everything to be de-
sired, the new road nothing. 1t is to be
presumed that the present road will at
once cease paying its $1,000 into the city
treasury.
Attorney L. L.. Gibbon then arose and
endeavored to convince the spectators in
general and Mr. Frost in particular, that
the electric cars were no green-eyed mon
sters such as Mr.. Frost depicted. He said
that the license charges on electric cars
would pay for the sprinkling which the
present road agreed to do. Then he sprang
a surprise which called forth much APP
plause by directing the board to strike out
the words IS cents" and Substitute ~
cents for fare inside the city.
Thomas Croft, one of the most fervent of
the Euclid-avenue protestants, made a last
protest against cars on that avenue. He
did not think the citizens wanted the Ter
minal.
DR.. G. Roscoe Thomas, an earnest work.
err for the Terminal replied that he was
willing to declare that the company would
agree that If he could not get GO per cents
of the voters to sign petition for the Ter
minal, then the Terminal would withdraw
its application for franchise. Mr.. Gibbon
agreed to this proposition, which, however,
was not accepted by the opposing faction.
DR.. Thomas made another hit when he
said IF fear of competition causes this
other road to make these generous offers
to the city, then what will competition it.
self do for the city " The boom which came
to Pasadena ten years ago hurt individuals,
but benefited the community In like man.
ner, boom OF electric roads might hurt
individuals, but would benefit this city. DR..
Thomas recounted the rule of the hack.
Judge Rossiter made lengthy and flow
cry speech in favor Of the present roads
monopoly of the situation.
G. w. Beck, from the southwestern part
of town, thought that with another road
both would suffer and service be impaired.
Mr.. Gibbon brought down applause by
again reminding the board of the fact thnt
the last local campaign was run on plat
forms whereby both parties were to favor
the admission of competing lines. A COM
peting line would win $4,000 to the city,
while the present road pays only $1,000 for
Its privilege. Competition will make bust
ness. Monopoly will never do it.
Trustee Hoag announced that he had
some few changes to make in the pro-
posed franchise. The franchise was read
by the clerk and the changes were made.
Mr. Gibbon volunteered change to suit
Eucid-avenue people, viz. agreeing that
cars should stop midway In the blocks on
that avenue. Attorney Willett, acting in
the absence Of Acting City Attorney w. s.
Wright, stated that he had gone over the
resolution and franchise and made some
few minor changes in verbiage. He was
sure the franchise would hold good in court
as it stood, with the exception OF the
clauses in regard to the route outside the
municipality, which, all lawyers were
agreed, could not be made to hold, but must
be left as they are.
The resolution declaring the advertising
for bids for the franchise was read, and
Trustee Loclett moved that it be adopted.
There was silence. Trustee Dobbns waited
moment and then looked across at Trus-
tee Hoag. Then Dobbins asked if Hoag had
heard the motion. Mr.. Hoag replied that
he had, and there was another pause. Then
Mr.. Hoag stated that he was in favor of
voting for the franchise and seconded the
motion. The clerk called the roll. Trus-
tees Dobbins, Hoag and Lockett voted aye
and Trustee Reynolds and Mayor Patten
voted no. There was a storm of applause
from the lobby and Mr.. Gibbon shook hands
with the councilmen. 1t was decided to
open bids for the franchise at the meeting
of the council on Monday, August Is, in
stead of on August Sth, as previously fig
ured on.
other City Business
One bid for the California cycleway fran
chise lay on the table. 1t was opened and
proved to be from Joseph L. Smythe of the
California Cycleway company, of which
Horace M. Dobbins, the promoter of the
scheme is chief stockholder. The bid was
10 per cent of the gross receipts of the road
after five years. II. M. Dobbins, ]. H.
Campbell and G.. A. Gibbs were named as
Temporary sureties. The American Surety
company will be the permanent surety
The bond was approved and the bid ac-
cepted. The ordinance was read for the
first time.
Attorney Bradner w. Lee of the San
Gabriel Traction company stated that he
had prepared form of franchise exactly
similar to that just granted the Terminal
He, too, had made the change which Mr..
Gibbon made, viz, reducing the local fare
to cents. The clerk fead the form of fran
chise The company wishes to build on
Grand avenue north to Palmetto to Day
ton, to Vineyard to Raymond, to Green,
to Fair Oaks, to COLORADO, to Pasadena, to
Dayton and to connect with the first line
Green. Dayton, Vineyard, Fair Oaks and
Colorado streets will not have double
track, Trustee Locket stating that he was
not satisfied with the ordinance as It stood
before. Hoag moved to grant the fran