The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-30
TEN PAGES.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 1898.
No Freight Cars.

~HE fight is over. With as much
grace as 1t could summon for
the occasion the street railroad
through its manager yester-
day withdrew its request for a franchise
to carry ore and freight o. Butte's
business streets. The company bowed
10 public opinion as expressed so en-
phatically by the people and press dur
ing the past two weeks and without
waiting for the action OF the council
withdrew from the contest.
The result is gratifying. as showing
that sometimes the people can win even
in a contest with the street railroad
They don't do II very often.
The Standard calls to mind a case some
four years ago when the street railroad
company desired a franchise to RAUL ore
cars down Montana street from the
Gagnon mine at the head of the street
TO the smelters at the foot of the street.
There was a vigorous protest from the
residents of the street. Practically every
property-owner from Park street up to
the mines Joined in the protest. Yet
the franchise passed by an overwhelm-
ing majority. That was a case where
the voice Of the people was of no avail.
The Standard also recalls the time,
about a year ago, when. with one or
two exceptions, all the Main street bust
ness men north OF Park street protested
against the moving of the railway
tracks from Main street. Yet the street
railroad company carried its point and
IL was boosted afterward that the com
pany had three more aldermen NJ its
corporate sleeve, who would have vot-
ed the c~ompany's way had the com
pany found IL necessary TO press the
button.
There are many other instances that
might be cited where the Butte council
has not gone the way of the people.
But that is all the more reason for graft
ication that at last the people have
won a ~fght-that their wishes are to be
respected. They protested against this
most infamous of outrages and their
indignant protest commanded respect.
True, il is not yet certain that the
street railroad company would not have
beaten the people had the matter come
10 a test vote in the council That is
a matter Of conjecture. But one of two
things is true, and either is mos: graf
ffying. Either the company became
convinced that IL could not carry the
council, in which case the people may
be encouraged in knowing that their
wishes have weight with the aldermen:
or otherwise the company repented. i'm
which case the people may feel pleasure
and qualification that the street rail-
road has symptoms of a conscience. 1t
IS conceded TO be a very unusual thing
for corporations to have consciences
and for the street railroad company
most Of all. But IL it be true. that this
company has symptoms Of a conscience,
it is not surprising that remorse gnaw-
ed al il when II came to contemplate
the enormity Of the outrage 1t proposed
10 perpetrate on the people Of Butte.
The Standard is inclined to accept
the theory that IT was the gnawing Of
remorse that caused the street rail-
road company 10 relent. As a further
evidence that remorse has been getting
in it's work on the company's conscience.
II is announced that the company has
decided TO cease the operation Of ore
cars on Montana street during the night
time. h is in Difference to the
indignant expressions made by people
living on that street, who have had
their rest broken night after night.
When remoTse gnaws on the COM
pany's conscience some more, further
concessions TO the people may be ex-
pected.