The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-01

A preliminary step in securing an eiec-
trio railway 10 West Seattle was taken
Monday night IN the presentation 10 the
city council Of petition for Il franchise
or First avenue south. Connecticut street
and Railroad avenue 10 The city limits
Should franchise be granted acceptable
20 certain Eastern capitalists who have
agreed TO finance such railway. the mon
eg viii oe forthcoming 10 Start work At
once. providing TO hitch with the county
commissioners interTeres with securing a
rght-of-way along Railroad avenue from
the city limits 10 West Seattle.
Such construction as ~ proposed would
cost in the neighborhood of Si0.o0n. The
most expensive single item would De the
drawbriige over the DuwamiSh river chan
Eel. This must he bull. subject 10 nspec-
Ton by United States cfvE engineers. and
would mean an outlay Of about $4,000.
The petition for a franchise introduced
IN the council Monday night by ex-Corpor
alton Counsel John X. Broyn, came a
surprise He explained that he submitted
the petition at the instance Of Richard
ChilCott. the well-Enown shipping owner
and agent. Tie petition simply asked for
a rignt-of-way TO the city limits. and there
Was 10 accompanying explanation OF the
ultimate intentions of the parties asking
the franchise. IL Was learned yesterday
that Capt. Ch.lcott formed connections.
with several large investors in this class Of
property and that he was seeking the
franchise for them.
The prime mover in the present plan has
been ]. F. Jacobsen. He has 25o acres on
Alki point and is understood 10 have Of
fered subsidy 70 any railway Inc that
will run 20 his property. His interest lies
naturally i'll the ennanc. illent OF land VAL
uer that would result from better passenger
facilities He has long been seeking 20
hs.x~ hG he
Railroad avenue 10 the city limits. Tie
trestle and road bed now ends al the Cen
tennial mill. 2.0o0 feet inside OF the limits.
Mr.. jacobsen said yesterday that he knew
positively that the Port Biakel.y Mill Com
pany would put in plant midway between
Seattle and West Seattle. where 1t has Il
If the avenue We're built up. He also knew.
he said, OF industries that would start UP
in West Seattle.
The parties interested believe a railway
to West Seattle could be made to pay Il
/, were sc situated as to catch the local
business OF the manufacturing companies
were on First avenue they believe this
business would be tributary 10 the road.
They fear the council will only grant
franchise continuing them TO some
dental avenue south. !. VIII be
necessary for a line running into
The city from the tide flats u cross Inc
Great Northern tracks and buildings on
tres;.e. II this trestle were built along
Occidental avenue south II would need TO
be 1000 or 800 feet long In order 10 clear
the Great Northern conStructio at that
point. A crossing at First avenue would
he mncn less expensive.
There seems 10 be some question TO
whether the Seattle Warehouse a Term
nal Company has franchise for the
tracks on winch IL operates 10 West Seat
tie. Ia case franchise we're granted 10
the present petitioners. a question might
come up as 70 the rights OF the Seattle
Ware house Terminal Company.
The whole matter IL yet in such en-
bgyonlc shape that details of construction
have not been considered and local people
interested have NOT telt justified III making
any definite statements.