El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-05-19
LIGHT
FRANCHISE
Was Granted Last Night To
the Citizens Committee
THE RAILWAY COMPANIES

Il IHE RAILWAY COMPANIES
Did Not Succeed In Procuring Fran
a chise For Running Electric Cars
: Over Two Or Three Streets And
Judge Buckler Declined To Put UI
Forfeit. THE Proposition Delay.
ed For a Week.
The mayor mounted his throne in
the presence of large audience in the
, council chamber last night The roll
call showed all of the councilmen pres
ent and ready for business.
City Clerk Catlin read the minutes
OF the last meeting and as no objection
was offered they went through all
right.
The crowd was attracted there by the
announcement that the electric street
railway franchise was to be granted to
certain parties who are at present in
; the city for the purpose of securing it.
; City Clerk Catlin's report of build
ing permits issued during March was
referred. He also reported collecting
from the county 81, ,2S6.98, as the coun-
ty's share OF the expenses of the pest
house.
The report of Chief Lockart showed
| Soou VIC POl1CC OC buTu6u GO
the city treasury during April 81 ,224
in the way of fines, etc.
LIGHT FRANCHISE GRANTED.
The ordinance committee made the
following report on the citizens elec-
tr.c light franchise:
| May Is, 1898.
To the City Council: The ordinance
committee, to whom was referred IAN
ordinance granting electric light and
power privileges to j. p. Dieter, A.
Courchesne and Others" respectfully |
report that they have examined and |
considered said ordinance, and they |
recommend its passage with the follow |
ing additions and notifications. They |
recommend that in section ! it be pro-
vided that the city reserve the right
to regulate the height and kind of |
poles to be used, and the elevation of |
lights. Also, that in section where
the words 100. 600 people" occur, that
the words SO, 900 people" be substitut-
ed; also, that in section where the
words Fifty (50) years" appear, that the
words twenty-five t25) years" be sub
stituted; that section be so changed
to require cash deposit of 80, 900 as q
guarantee and as liquidated and as
certained damages instead OF the bond
therein specified.
They further recommend that Sec
ton l be so changed as to authorize
the city that after ten years, if it
should see fit to do SO, to require the
wires to be put underground, or used |
and protected in such manner az may
at the time be deemed by said city the |
safest and best of methods then in use
in cities of like class and size for US
ing and protecting such wires.
With the above changes they recon-
mend the passage of said ordinance.
The of he too 4
ing with it the adoption of the electric
light ordinance was adopted.
Judge Backler read proposition
from present street railway stockhold-
ers asking for franchise for 40 years |
to construct an electric street railway |
In Ell Paso to run up Santa Fe street to |
San Francisco and across the little |
plaza to st. Louis street; east On St. |
Louis to Stanton; south on Stanton to |
San Antonio: west on San Antonio to |
Ell Paso; south on Ell Paso to Seventh;
east on Seventh to Stanton, and south |
on Stanton to the river. The only new
territory asked for and not now occu-
pied by either of the old lines, is the
two blocks on Stanton from ST. Louis |
to San Antonio The ordinance calls |
for fifty years. franchise and pro-
vides that within six months the street |
car lines shall make bond for $5, 900 to
have electric cars in operation within
one year after the bond is made.
Judge Buckler said his clients were
not asking for much more than they |
already had, and he asked that the or
dinance be either passed or rejected
then and there.
Alderman Badger moved that the
ordinance be referred to the ordinance
committee.
The mayor requested Mr.. Badger to
occupy the throne for awhile and he
before the members of the
council in a strong argument in favor
of granting the 40 year franchise. He
tried to impress the fact upon the
members of the council that a bond
was as good "a a cash deposit and al
most became eloquent when he reach
ed the point where he wished to con-
vince his hearers that the 40-year fran
chise was absolutely necessary.
Alderman Clifford took up the point
that q cash deposit should be necessa-
ry from the men who propose to con-
struct the electric line. He referred
to the deposit of SIC, 900 made by the E.
p. & N. E. road for the faithful per-
fOrmaDce of their duty and how the
money was refunded to them at the pro-
per time. Alderman Whitmore was of
the opinion that while the first fran
chise covered too much this one was
entirely too short. He thought it offer
ed poor improvement over the pre-
sent street railway system. He de-
clared that he would vote agsint it ..
unless the petitioners put, at once, q
cash bond of SIS 1000.
After considerable discussion Mr..
Badgers motion to refer the ord nance
to the city attorney and the ordinance
until the next meeting was
carried.
BILLS ALLOWED. Ii