The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1900-03-08
IT WAS PRESENTED.
Railway Franchise, Drawn by Chicago
Parties, Now in the Hands of
the City Council.
LITTLE HOPES OF IT'S PASSAGE

To the Kenosha People, With Their Long |
Acquaintance with Franchise Ordinances |
TIE Document Looks Like Huge Farce
New Route is Laid OUT by the Would be
Railway Builders-Franchise is Ordered
Published at Applicants Expense.
The City Council now have another
electric railway franchise ordinance
for their considera ton, for at the meet |
ing Monday night an ordinance to this
effect was presented by Patrick F.
Haynes and Gustave L. Clauson, of
Chicago.
The document was presented by the
promoters in person, and, after some
delay it was arranged that Aid. Priddis
should father the ordinance before the
Council. AS to the present condition
of the franchise it is hard to state
whether or not it has any official posi-
ton. The Council, at the instigation
of the city attorney, refused to officially
recognize the ordinance until it has
been published, as required by law, at
the expense of the promoters and until
this proof has been submitted the
Council will take no action in the
matter.
AS to the ordinance little comment
is necessary. The whole thing is so
absurd that our citizens and the mem
bers of the Council will scarcely give
it momentary consideration. Several
ordinances have been presented in the
last few years, hut not in the memory
Of the oldest inhabitant was an ordin-
nance like the one now in the posses
sion of the Council foisted on long
suffering public. 1t has positively
nothing to redeem it.
The promoters have mapped out
route which shows conc1usively that it
was presented for the sole purpose of
building a through line into the city
and then. as an after thought, little
spur was thrown in to fool the people
by making them think this was local
line. The route, as laid out by the or
dinanCe, is to begin at the south city
limits on Ashland avenue and running
north to Grand avenue; on Grand ave-
nue. to Union street; thence on Mi1wau-
kee avenue to the north limits of the
city.
Tue local route is to begin at the
intersection of North Main and Mil
waukee Avenue and run south along
North Main and Main streets, around
the park to join the other line at Ash
land avenue.
The ordinance asks for franchise
for a period of fifty years and agrees
that if the franchise is granted the line
will be pui1t within three years. Of
course the ordinance contains all the
clauses in regard to the laying of the
line and the keeping of the city charm
Less from all demands for damages,
and the keeping of the tracks. All
these things seem to be concessions
TO the city. In regard to concessions,
though, two are offered. The company
agrees to pave and keep the paving in
repair for distance of seven feet on
streets on which single track is laid
and sixteen feet on the streets on which
double tracks are laid. Another con-
cession is that the police officials and
members of the fire department are
allowed to ride free on all cars of the
company.
This is the sum and substance of the
document which the aldermen are
asked to give their dignifed consider
alton.
AS soon as the ordinance was pre-
scented Mayor German said that he was
of the opinion that the council desired
to give the matter honorable consider
alton and for this reason they would
take their time in the matter. Alder
man O'Brien moved that the ordinance
be referred to the council as commit
tee of the whole and that it be pub
1ished at the expense of the promoters.
This brought forth an argument in
which the city attorney took part and
he informed the council that they had
no right to act on the measure until
after the ordinance had been published
according to law. Aid. Head moved
to adjourn. The motion was lost by the
vote of the Mayor and the discussion
continued.
After a short time no action having
been taken Aid. Head again moved to
djourn, and the motion was carried |
by a unanimous vote.
Thus the matter stands and it would |
require the opinion of the proverbia1
lawyer to tell the exact
position of the ordinance. It is prob |
able that it will be published, but from
statements made by the aldermen it
seems hardly possible that the ordin-
ance will ever be considered by the
Council.