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


ference to them as to the switching
from the east or from the west. The
elimination of the tracks from the
principal streets was a point to be
considered in the matter.
A protest against the granting Of
the franchise, signed by number of
prominent citizens and taxpayers, was
read
Mr.. Ellenwood spoke in behalf of the
several signers of the protest against
the franchise. He said that although
the ordinance sounded nice and Mr.
Dale's statements in regard to 1t sound
ed we'll, there we're many Objectionable
features that should receive careful
attention before the ordinance was
voted upon. He stated that on Decem-
ber IL, 1889, franchise was granted to
the Union Terminal Company and in
it was an agreement to fill Butler
street between Second and Third and
to maintain a carriage way on the
south side Of the track. The condi-
tions of that ordinance have been COM
pletely disregarded; it is unwise to
give one foot more to corporation
than is absolutely necessary; that
while it is necessary for the railroad to
cross streets and such rights should
be regarded, it was an exception to
give them the right to traverse a main
tLoroughfare of the city. Two years
ago the railroad company purchased a
lot on Third street under peculiar cir
cumstances, with the desire and pur-
pose to do switching between Second
and Third in order to avoid doing
such work on Front street. They
have failed to do this and now come
asking for a franchise to put their
tracks beyond Fourth street, thus
blocking one of the thoroughfares of
the city. The C. & NJ. switching to-
gether with that of the B. & o. S. w.
would almost cause the abandonment
of Fourth street as a thoroughfare.
Mr. Ellenwood gave many other rea-
sons for the opposition to the fran
chise.
A. d. Follett, representing the B. &
o. s. W., replied to Mr.. Ellenwoods
argument and gave as reasons for the
granting of the franchise that sonsid-
cradle property would be rendered
more valuable by the improvements
which would be brought about, espec-
tally by the filing on Butler street;
the business men want railroads as
convenient as possible; the switching
on Front street would be discontinued
For these and other reasons Mr.. Fol-
let advocated the granting of the fran
chise.
Several other gentlemen spoke in
behalf of the different phases of the
question, and then Mr.. Wood made an
eloquent address, championing the
cause of the franchise and giving a
complete history of the entire question
so far as he, during his four years of
financial loss in serving as a member
of the Railroad committee had been
able to learn. His principal argument
was that the track on Second street
ran along in front of fifteen business
houses, while the extension would not
worry anybody in particular but Mr. |
meredith and Mr.. Alderman. After
giving these gentlemen a gentle rub, |
Wood passed to the College, which was |
gwen regular will-you-be |
good setting down. He then spent |
some time in telling how much he had |
done in the way of subscriptions to |
the College and other public institu-
tions, and stated that since he had |
been a member of the City Council he |
had spent hundreds of dollars for the |
good of the city and had never recelv-
ed cent. He wound up his discourse
by an attack on the city press.
After Woods speech, Strain moved
that the ordinance be passed to its
second reading by title only. The mo-
ton carried, and the ordinance passed |
to third reading by title only.
Then the motion was made to put |
ordinance upon its passage and the |
discussion was again taken up The |
matter was reviewed from both sides, |
and in response to some objection Mr..
Brlmson authorized a change in the
ordinance, whereby the fill at each side |
Of the track was to be 80 feet wide in |
stead of 20 feet. Then after some fur |
ther discussion, Davis said that he |
thought the matter should be carried |
over to the next meeting, in order to
allow members time to give the mat
ter proper consideration, and a short
argument ensued.
The motion to put the ordinance up
on its passage was Withdrawn and the |
motion to postpone for one week pre-
vailed, Marsch and Strain voting |
against. This settled the matter for
the session.
An ordnance to provide for the re-
demption of 100000 worth of water
works bonds by the issue of new bonds |
was read, but after a short discussion |
the matter was carried over and will |
be the subject for consideration at |
meeting to be held this evening.
% The following bills were allowed:
Beagle & Lytle. ...... ....... ..$l.15
Mrs. Mary Weiser.. ..... .. 1000 |