The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-29
MAY BUY FRANCHISE
IF TERMS FOR PAYMENT ARE
MADE SATISFACTORY.
IS NOT so MUCH THE PRICE
AS TIME OF PAYMENT THAT is
HELD OBJECTIONABLE.

An Alderman Believes the franchise
offered by the City Would Find a
Ready Purchaser If the Report OF
the Streets and Lanes Committee
Should BE Slightly Modiied-MOre
Time Should BE Given for Paying
BE Discussed by Council at Reg
uIar Meeting-Ordinanc for Sep
aration OF Races May Pass Then.
It is probable that the City Council
will make a slight change in the re-
port of the Streets and Lanes Commit
tee, on the granting of a franchise for
another trolley system, at the regular
meeting of the board Wednesday. 1t
is further believed by some that with
a slightly modified plan there will be a
taker for the franchise that will be Of
fered by the city.
The members of the board are care
fully considering the report of the
Streets and Lane Committee and will
be In a position to discuss the fran
chise question thoroughly when the
matter comes up in caucus. A member
of the board said yesterday that he
is of the opinion that the city will be
able to get $4,000 for the streets Of
fered in the special report and that the
only trouble is in the manner in which
the payment must be made.
The special report names $4,000 as
the minimum price for the franchise,
$4,000 to be paid in certified check
to accompany the bid, $4,000 in thirty
days, and the balance in sixty days
from the acceptance of the bid. 1t is
argued that the price named is not too
much, but that no new concern could
build and equip a trolley system, and
pay out that amount all at the same
time. A member of the board said, in
talking of the franchise question, that
the burden is one that syndicate
could not be expected to carry.
The same alderman stated that he
has no doubt but that the city will be
able to dispose of such a franchise,
provided different arrangements can
be made for paying the purchase
money. A plan for annual payments,
with interest, will probably be unfold
ed, and the franchise may be made
much more attractive in that way.
The time for paying the amount asked
for the franchise seems to be the chief
fault with it, although objections are
made to some of the other paragraphs
Some of the aldermen are of the opin-
ion that the franchise will find pur-
chaser, and that Savannah will have
another electric car system in the near
future.
The report of the Streets and Lanes
Committee provides that the purchasers
of the franchise shall bona fide begin
the construction of the system within
ninety days from the date of accept
ance of their bid, and shall completely
finish the same and commence the OPP
Grafton of cars within eighteen months
of the date of acceptance. If the pur-
chasers fail to do this the franchise
shall cease, and the amount paid shall
be retained by the city. 1t is probable
that modified ordinance will be intro
duced by some member of the board.
There are several matters of import
ance to come up at the meeting of
Council, in addition to the question of
street railway franchise. The Pc
tition of the Seaboard Air Line ask
ing for the privilege of laying tracks
on Bay and other streets may be re-
ported on, and there appears to be no
doubt but that it will be turned down.
The ordinance for the separation of
the races on trolley cars will be put
on its second reading, and it is be-
lieved will become law. The oppo-
sition to the passage of the proposed
measure may develop strength before
the meeting of Council, but those be-
hind the move say that they are de-
termined to have the races separated.
1t is believed that this announced finn
ness of position on the part of those
who are agitating the passage of the
ordinance will mean it's adoption.