The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-21

Permission was yesterday granted to the
Grant Street Electric Railway Company by
the board Of public works 70 construct q
3 line OF poles and electric wires from tho
power station Of the Snoqualmie Falls
Power Company, on Second avenue south,
to the corner OF Post and Madison streets.
z. F. Blaine, secretary Of the company,
stated last night that the purpose Of the
interpretations was to engage In the husi-
ness Of furnishing both electric light and
power to private consumers In the business
section Of the city, as well as along the
line OF the Grant street electric road. Con-
struction of the new distributing system
Will be begun Immediately.
Ordinarily. perhaps, the fact that the
Grant street company had decided to build
an electric light and power distributing
system would not cause unusual comment,
but in this case there are several facts
which make the matter OF more than pass
ing interest. The chief one Of these is that
the franchise under which the company
Is operating was granted by the city coun.
ell several years ago to Charles H. Baker
and his associates. Mr.. Baker is president
OF the Snoqualmie Falls Power Company.
Mr.. Blaine yesterday admitted that hiS
company had secured contract from the
Snoqualmie company or the Seattle Gaia
ract Company, by which the latter would
furnish power and electric current for the
new system. Mr.. Blaine said, however,
that there were no relations between Mr..
of purchaser Of electric power and a
wholesaler In that commodity.
Another fact which makes the operations
OF the Grant street company of more than
passing interest Is that for a long time the
city authorities refused to recognize the
validity of the franchise for supplying light
and power under which Mr.. Blaine applied
frsr frrfx L.sav L.
the heart Of the business section. Just be-
fore the return of the Washington volun-
teers the board of public works became in
volved in a clash with Mr.. Blaine over tho
erection of poles and electric lines on
Fourth avenue, reaching the Denny hotel.
Mr. Blaine claimed that his company had
right to build the lines under the franchise
originally granted to Mr. Baker, but later
assigned to the Grant Street Electric Rail-
way Company. The city took the position
that the franchise lapsed because Of nom
fulnllment by the grantees Of It's terms.
Several ordinances touching the matter
were found which con1icted, the result be-
ing that a cloud was discovered. from the
city's point Of view, on the franchise
The case being taken into the superior
court. the company won, and Corporation
Counsel Humphrey gave the board an opin-
ion that the company was entitled to
permit for the proposed work. This was
granted yesterday.
Mr.. Blaine said last night that there was
no amount of power specified In his con-
tract with Mr.. Bakers company. Eve
can have all we want" he said tersely. The
inference which was plainly to be drawn
from Mr.. Blaine's remarks was that his
company proposed to engage In general
lighting business
Over six months ago, according to Mr..
Blaine the Grant street company was or
dered by the Union Electric Company to
remove its electric wires from the poles
OF the latter company. Since then the rail-
way company has not done great deal in
the business of supplying light and power
through the business section OF the city.
At the city hall there Is well-def1ned
impression that Mr.. Blaine's company is
on terms Of more than common friendship
with the Snoqualmie Falls Power Com
pany. IT has been understood for some
time that the Snoqualmie company would
sooner or later join forces with the Union
Electric Company. Much speculation Is in
dulged in at the city hall regarding the
significance of the latest developments In
light and power circles.
The. new lines will be built Of the best
materials. The poles will be seventy feet
high-among the highest in the city. The
route to be covered is as follows:
From Second avenue south and Main
street, where the Snoqualmie company's
power station is located, thence to the alley
between First and Second avenues, thence
on the alley across Yesler way to Post
street. and thence on Post street to Madi-
son.