Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-11-29
A LATE SESSION.
The Railroad Franchise Causes Warm
Discussion in Council,

totlu6 NHtI udS OCCulitu biuCC tuS uoy :
of the granting of the telephone fran
chise and the awarding of the Putnam
street bridge contract. The visitors
gallery was crowded to its utmost ca
paclty and many of the visitors were
there TO represent the various interests
at stake in the granting of the fran
chlse for the extension of the b. & o.
S. w. tracks from Fourth to Fifth
streets.
That was the principal measure un-
der consideration, and every side, for
and against, was represented in the
discussion which occupied most of the
session.
Every member OF Council was in at
tendance and as usual betrayed a
deep concern in the question at issue.
after roll call, and a motion which
dispensed with the reading of the min
utes, President Wood called Vice Pres
ident Lambert to the chair and went
down and occupied seat with the
main body OF Councilmen.
The business was taken up in the
usual way. A communication was re-
ceived from the Board of Health, rel
ative to compensation to Strecker
Bros. for the use of ground for dispos-
ing of city garbage. The communica-
ton was referred to the Garbage COM
mittee.
Strain reported for the special com
mittee appointed to adjust and equal
ize assessments for West Side sewer
purposes. Could find no remedy for
the evils existing; that the City Clerk
and Solicitor had carefully examined
the records and that under the sta
tutes the assessments were just and
equitable.
Judge Follett, who represented a
number of West Side citizens in the
matter, asked that the investigation be
continued for one week, as he did not
deem it ready yet to be presented to
Council On motion the committee
was continued for another week.
Wood reported for the Railroad
committee, that they had consulted
with the B. & o. S. w. officials in re-
gard to the filling of the Ice Harbor
lot and that Mr.. Rawn had stated that
it would be impossible for them to
have the work done this winter, but
would consider a proposition next
spring. The report was received.
Supt Mason reported progress to-
ward the construction of piers for the
new Putnam street bridge. The re-
port was received and placed on file.
Wood then presented the ordinance
to grant certain rights and privileges
to the B. & o. S. w. railroad for the
extension of their tracks on Butler
street, from Fourth to Fifth streets,
and the discussion commenced. The
ordinance was read in full
Mr.. Wood stated that there were a
number of citizens present who were
there to present the interests of the
various concerns in opposition or in
favor of the granting of the franchise
and made a motion to allow them u
speak with the limitation that their
speeches be confined to ten minutes
each. This motion prevailed.
Mr.. T. D. Dale was the first tc
speak and he said that he wished tc
offer an explanation in regard to the
ordinance, and also to his connection
personally with the proposed fran.
chise. He stated that he had no per
sonal interest whatever in wishing II
secure the grant, but that he favored
the ordinance because he thought II
was for the best interests OF the city;
he favored the propositions as pre-.
sented because they seemed to him tC
be fair and liberal and for these reas,
ons he had taken an interest and ia.
yored the passage of the ordinance
Mr.. Dale then gave a statement oi
facts in regard to the manner in which
the B. & o. s. w. had secured the
property, together with the rights and
franchises held by the Union Termina
Railway, and to the changes the B.
o. S. w. would make should the fran
chise be granted. These changes were
as follows: The taking up of the
switch on Second street; the discon'
tlnuance of switching on Front street
the extension of tracks along Butler
street with a twenty-foot fill on eact
side of the track for street purposes
Mr.. Dale said that the railroad would
really have more track room undei
their present system of switching from
the Front street end and that in real
ity the change would be a concession
and that he considered it a good ex
change for the city to make. He salt
that the opposition nearly all cam
from parties who had property inter
ests at stake, the nearness of track
residences being the prlncipa
cause of complaint.
Judge Follett then spoke in behal
of Marietta College and as a citizel
who was interested in the publ
schools of the city. He said that n
did not consider that there was any
thing in the ordinance to compel tn
railroad company to discontinu
switching on Front street, while if tn
switching was carried to the Fourtl
street end, as it would surely be unde
the extension If granted, it would al
most render the buildings OF the Col