Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-08-07
RAPID TRANSIT CO.
Won BEFORE THE MARTINS FER
RY COUNCIL LAST NIGHT.

WON BEFORE THE MARTINS FER
RY COUNCIL LAST NIGHT.
The wheeIing Traction Company
Made n strong Flight in Oppose
tfon-fhe Company HAS n Compre-
hensIve Route Practically Cover
Ing the City.
Politics are said to make strange bed
fellows, but the man who originated
this NAHUM certainly had never dealt
with a city council. The Martins Ferry
Council met last evening, with all the
members present, and after transact
ing some routine business, the ordin-
ance of the Ohio Rapid Transit Com
pany was brought up by a motion OF
councilman Dobbins. AS was stated IN
yesterdays Register, the ordinance COM
ms.tee went over the ordinance and au-
thorized the city solicitor to make Ger
tain changes in the ordinance and to
formulate the same, to be presented
to Council at their meeting last night.
.ut when this ordinance was brought
up the clerk astonished the large audi
ence by reading a new ordinance for the
Ohio Rapid Transit Company, which
changed the center of their route from
Hanover street to Carlisle, and in fact
was an entire LEI ordinance. After the
clerk had read this new ordinance Mi.
Dobbins moved that the rules be sus-
pended. and the ordinance passed to its
final reading. Mr.. Selby seconded the
motion. The new ordinance provided
for a ive-cent fare in the City limits
of Martins Ferry, and that when the
line reached Wheeling the fare for the
round trip to Wheeling should not ex-
coed ten cents; that Is, that those wish
ing this fare could buy six trips for
twenty-five cents, and that the books
would be good for six months. The COM
pany also agrees to have one mile OF
track built within twelve months, and II
not constructed within that time, to pay
to the city $40 per day until the amount
reaches 5 1000, and II this said amount
of track is not constructed at the end
of fifteen months the franchise will be
null and void. They also agree TO allow
the S~teubenville, Mingo & Ohio Valley
Traction Company to enter the city over
their line. This was a surprise to all,
as the latter line, prior to this meeting.
has been Sighting the Ohio Rapid Tran
sit Company and claiming they wished
to bottle I'D the northern entrance TO
Martins Ferry. as their attorney, j. Z.
Gray. at a previous meeting, stated they
(the Ohio Rapid Transit Company
have the bottle, and want Council 10
furnish the cork. But Gray and the ).
NJ. e. O. Y. T. Co. were silent last even
ing. and the latter company partook OK
a small dish of crow, which they seemed
to relish, and Mr.. Gray gained promi-
nenee by simply keeping still, Inc what
a few weeks ago was fighting the OHIO
RAND Transit Company turns out 10
be their friends and have the right to
use their tracks, as embodied in the Or
dinance, which practically cuts OUT any
other company using this line. Mr..
Cooke. city solicitor, read the amend
ments that the ordinance committee mad
passed on at their last meeting. Man
day night In regard to the ordinance
of the Ohio Rapid Transit Company
which provided for eight tickets In place
of five for twenty-five cents; also that
the company should pave the Burlington
road. and that in construction unaVold-
mile DELAYS should be struck out, n
mat a five-cent fare be open to all Win
out books, and that all other companies
should use tracks and that If the COM
peting companies should not agree,
Council should make the terms, n
that companies using the tracks should
nav one-hahf of the construction price;
also that the time Of the franchise De
changed from 20 to Is years, and II any
company built tracks prior to the ONO
RAND Transit Company they snouid
have same right to extend the same
right to other companies. AL THIS POM
w. B. Francis made an argument lot
the Wheeling & ~Steubenville Traction
Company, as they would be shut out
under this ordinance. Mr.. Duncan, ESQ.
argued that Council fully consider THIS
ordinance before taking action, n MT.
!. C. Heinlein argued for the Ohio Rap
id Transit Company. He made some
telling statements, such as the wheeling
Traction Company charging hve cents
to Benwood from North Wheeling, and
then ten cents to Wheeling from Mar
tins Ferry, and ten cents to Belialre
from Martins Ferry. and having no
,bridlges to cross; also that the Ohio
Rapid Transit Company had to pay $lo,-
900 to the Terminal Bridge Company to
get to Wheeling. $4,000 less than the
wheeling Traction Company. After this
argument, Council passed the ordinance
under the suspension of the rules, ana
the Ohio Rapid Transit Company now
has one of the most valuable franchls9s
in the Ohio valley. The Council TOOK
lite intere in other matters, but unan-
imorsly endorsed a resolution endorsing
the present strike. :,
After paying the usual bills, Council
adjourned.