The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-17
As If II OWNED WINGS
The Street Railway Franchise
Went Through the Council.
ORE AND FREIGHT TRAINS
Will Haul Their Loads From the Stew
art Mine to the Butte Reduction
UNDERSTANDING Is Granted
For Thirty Years,

"A matter came up at Wednesday
nights council meeting which is of
considerable Importance. It was the
matter of the franchise granted to the
street railway company, which went
through as though it had wings. The
franchise is for an electric railroad
for the purpose Of hauling ore and
other freight and is to enable the ore
from the Stewart mine to be hauled
to the Butte Reduction works by street
railway. The road is to start at the
Stewart mine and run across the north
end of town and connect with the Mon
tana street line at the Original mine.
By the franchise the company Is given
permission to cross the following
streets: Main street where the street
crosses the Original claim, lot 80, WOOL
man street on the Dives lode. lot 1873,
Wyoming street on the Stewart lode,
lot IS.
Section of the ordinance provides
that the company shall have the right
upon, In and across each and all OF the
streets named, to draw, run and propel
street cars for the purpose of carry
ing freight. coal, wood, timber and pas
sengers by means of electricity, cable
or such other improved method as
shall be approved by the council, ex-
cept steam power.
Another section provides that the
company shall give bond in the sum
OF $4,000 to indemnify the city from all
| loss or damage by reason of the con-
struction and maintenance OF the line.
Inc Franchise is for 80 years. All the
| other conditions of the franchise are in
conformity WithrFthe terms of the fran
chise governing the other lines OF the
city, with one exception, and that Is
where the clever manner of Manager
Wharton IN manipulating the council
was manifested.
The ordinance was introduced with
out any member ever having seen it
before and with almost no explanation
went through its successive readings
and was passed. The only explanation
made was that the company wanted to
get to work, owing to the lateness of
the season, and when inquiry was made
on that line, that the company agreed
by the franchise to pay the city half
a cent a ton for all freight hauled over
the new line. An examination of the
ordinance reveals that, no reference
whatever is made to this matter
When this was called to the attention
of an alderman yesterday, he said it
was not necessary to have 1t specifi-
cally stated in this franchise that the
company agreed to pay for the privi-
lege of hauling freight over the line
for the reason that all freight moved
over it had to go over the Montana
street line also. in the franchise for
which provision is made for the pay
ment to the city of the'half cent tariff.
That franchise, however. only requires
the company to pay the half cent tariff
on ore hauled, while the new one per-
mits hauling of all kinds of freight. 1t
is argued that this makes no differ
ence, for the reason that all freight
hauled on the line must go over the
Montana street line, and only ore Is
permitted to be hauled on that line.
This is true at present. but the fran
chise is for 80 years, and it is not i'm
possible that the growth of the city
might make the hauling Of freight
across the upper end OF town good
business in that time.
Mayor Mccarthy is not especially
pleased with the haste with which the
franchise was allowed to slip through
without a tenth part the consideration
the council would devote to buying a
few tons of coal or the removal of
quarantine flags, and it is not inpro2-
able the ordinance may receive veto
unless reconsidered and some changes
made. H.
II have always been opposed to al
lowing large matters like the granting
of franchise to go through the coun-
| Gil without proper deliberation, said
the mayor yesterday, but it seems to
be a habit with the aldermen to debate
by the hour some little matter that
does not involve anything Of import
ance, and when It comes to the letting
of contract for half million dollars
or granting franchise that may tie
the city up for long period of years,
It is railroaded through like lightning.
This matter OF the tariff on freight
hauled over the proposed new line may
not amount to much and it is barely
possible the city Is amply protected,
but 1T could have done no harm to have
had It specified in the ordinance. and
| doubtless would have been IL the mat
ter had been given due consideration. j"