Evening journal., 1899-09-12
KENT TROLLEY FIGHT.
Rival Companies Battled for
Dover Streets Yesterday.
STATE STREET PLOwED Up

COUNCILMEN USED fUhCE TO
PREVENT ONE GETTING AHEAD
OF THE OTHER.
Dover Sept. 12.-Delaware is to have
trolleys from end to end. That much
is now assured, for two companies are
making a great race to get possession
of Dover streets, the capital being con-
sidered the great vantage ground from
which the rest of the battle may be
waged.
But there may be bloodshed. Yes
terday afternoon, when the first move
towards gaining physical possession of
the highways was made, there was a
lively battle between officials, lawyers
and laborers.
TWO COMPANIES CLAIM STREETS.
John d. Hawkins. counsel for the
old Delaware Electric Railway Com
pany, yesterday notified Chairman Ben
son, of the street committee of Dover,
that a trainlead of trolley material had
arrived and would be laid upon the
streets as soon as the storm passed
over.
This surprised the councilmen, who
had about consented to allow the new
General Electric Company, which Sc
cured the right of way from the Levy
Court last week, to pass through Do
yer, using certain streets and paving
them after laying tracks. They, there
fore notified Mr.. Hawkins that any at
tempt to lay tracks within the limits
of Dover would be promptly checked,
as Mr.. Hawkins had never asked Coun-
ellis permission after he had obtained
his charter from the Legislature three
years ago.
The new Delaware General Electric
Company, which recently put s17,5OO
in bank here as a forfeit to the state,
providing it could not complete and
cluip the system within one year, ex-
I is material to arrive here to-
d..
Thus the trolley fight resolved itself
into a race against time, ,efpr whichever
company gets it's track started first has
the advantage of a statute which says
that the roads and streets may be used
by company, providing that the same
streets and roads are not traversed or
used by any other company.
TOWN WINS FIRST BLOOD.
Late in the afternoon Hawkins COM
pany announced its intention of begin
ming work and the town officials pre-
pared for action. A crowd gathered to
see tie fun.
About 5 o'clock ties and cross-ties
We're unloaded and a force of twenty
men started with pick-axes. Chairman
Benson, of Council appeared and stop
ped the work. Lawyer Hawkins reap
peared and ordered the work resumed.
A big plow was started down the mid
die of State street, tearing the street
bed into a furrow
Mayor Millington and Chairman Ben
son, with the entire Dover police force
made a raid on the laborers. and amid
a chaotic scene arrested five men, four
of whom had torn up the streets with
their big plow.
In an effort to keep out the crowd at
Alderman Cooper's Office there was a
lively fight. in which Solicitor Alexan-
der NJ. DAILY, appearing for Council, was
IL ,fr L. =
and more blows were exchanged.
The policemen and Mayor Millington
by the use of force, succeeded in partly
clearing the Office.
Counsel Hawkins. representing the
prisoners, produced a written documen
from Council which he claimed gav'
his company the right to occupy thu
streets.
The magistrate committed the fiv,
prisoners to jail in default OF fines o
$40 and costs in each case.
Mr.. Benson claimed that notice of al
actual beginning Of work must b.
served upon Council at least five day
in advance.
This has not been done, and to obvi
ate any difficulty like this a specia
meeting OF Council had been called TO
last night, but Mr.. Hawkins feared be
ing forestalled by Attorney-Genera
Whites company, and had taken tn
matter in his own hands.
When Council met the members wen
into executive session, revoked all tn
privileges granted to the Hawkins con
pany and ordered more arrests II nee
essary.
SCARED BURGLAR AWAY.