The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-08-05
START A PETITION
South Main People Want Car
Line to Harry Street.
ACTUAL COUNT OF FAMILIES
Is That 1872 Families Dope nd
on Its Service.

People on South Main street have
started q petition to present to the coun-
ell at fits next meeting to protest against
granting q franchise for a new street
railway which allows the South Main
street line to be cut on a. lincoln street
It was the intention at first to call a
mass meeting similar to the one held on
College Hi, but petition signed by all
the people interested was decided to be
more effective and one will be circulated
and presented to the council There SEEM
ed to be some misunderstanding about
the meeting Of the council last night.
Some OF the councilmen understood that
there was to be a meeting, but Mayor
Ross didn't call any and said he had no
intention of doing so. He said that final
action would not be taken on the fran
chise proposition Of Mr.. Scott until one
week from next Monday.
A gentleman from South Main street
who is interested and who is helping to
circulate the petition, presents the fol-
lowing:
To the Editor Of the Eagle.
Articles protesting against the proposed
street car franchise have appeared in
your columns and the residents of Col
iege Hill have presented In an able and
convincing manner reasons why the car
service should be continued to their set
clement Incidental mention mas beeI
made OF the injustice Of stopping the
South Main street line at Lincoln street,
but as yet no one seems to take up the
''cudgel" in defense Of the South Side.
As resident of South Main street below
Lincoln for the past thirteen years,
wish to say that with the proper service
that part Of the route between Lincoln
and Harry street will pay more than the
first three-quarters Of a mile south from
Douglas avenue.
Over so per cent Of the people riding
south go below Lincoln street. People
walk the first half mile unless they are
ready to ride somewhere near the leav-
ing time Of the cars-every thirty min
utes-as they can save time, and Incl
dentally money, thereby.
At Harry street the families Of 1872 res
idents, by actual count, would find It
their nearest car line, were they assured
Of obtaining a car when they arrive
there. There also is the Harry Street
school, whose teachers must ride to and
from town or hire conveyances, as well
as many Of their pupils, in stormy
weather.
It Is useless to estimate the future of
Q good car service by the last five years
OF the present service in any part OF the
city. People have been compelled to
buy horses. carriages and bicycles be-
cause Of the absolute unreliability Of the
present service, who would gladly discon-
tinue their use IL a certain and reason
ably often car service was available.
People residing on inside property have
little use for street cars, except in ba1
weather, while it is to the suburban
trafiic that all car lines in modern cities
cater. 1t is the suburban residents up
on whom all cities depend in a great e1-
tent for their growth. If the present pro-
posed franchise were to be adopted, with
fits contracting provision optional on the
part Of the company. the unusual specta-
Gle would be presented to the outside
world OF Wichita, the best and most pro-
gressive city Of Kansas, taking the in
itial steps to contracting its limits, at the
very beginning OF this franchise, to fit a
foreign corporation. A year later, 1t is
liable at the option of aaid corporation.
to further diminish its area, at which
time' 1 presume. it would be proper to
commence the fence" whereby its limits
are to be permanently prescribed. The
policy OF the proposed franchise is not
only unlike Wichita. but is positively I'M
American. and 1 trust that our mayor
and city council will rise equal to the oc-
casion and eliminate the proposed cur
tailment. at least to a reasonable degree
and. above all. the option OF discontin-
uance' A SUBSCRIBER.
To COnsumpttves.