The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-03
UPSET THE STREET PATHWAY FRANCHIsEs.

The experience of the people of this city with the Montgomery Street Rail- way on Thursday night is another proof of the utter inadequacy of that corporations service. Twice that even ing the cars of the system were stand ing still, once for a half hour and a second time for about two hours. The last time several hundred people were left stranded at Highland Park, and had either to hire hacks or to walk home. Among them were scores of la dies.
 This is fresh evidence of the fast developing fact that not only the cars, but the rest of the physical plant of the system is about worn out. Every body knows that there is not a first class car in service and that about half of the cars in use are fit only for the. scrap-pile. But it seems that the cars are not the only portions of the plant that are worn out. The over head wire system and its supports in many places. are weak and liable to give way at any time. The dynamo which creates the electricity must be in bad shape, for a stoppage of the current for a few minutes at time is a frequent happening. Loaded cars are seen climbing up grades at certain hours of the day at a slow speed and with unusual noises, indicating either insufficient current or weakened mo- tors. The state of the whole physical plant appears to be decrepit.
 Everybody recognizes this situation. ern cities comes back disgusted with the makeshift he has to stand here in the way of a street car service. His kicks are constant, loud, vigorous. But so far the people have had to stand the situation. The Montgomery Street Railway either can not, or will not. spend any money for betterments
 Neither will 1t sell out at a reasonable price to any concern that is able and willing to give the city an up-to-date system.
 What is to be done? The Advertiser has already pointed out a plan that ought to bring results. The franchises to the streets were given outright to
 the Street Railway for the purpose of securing proper service. A proper ser-
 vice means safe, comfortable cars,
 enough cars. adequate schedules. re-
 liable machinery. safe overhead wires, an1t cLa
 conductors. etc. Such a service is plainly not here today. and has not
 been here for a long time. The con- sideration for which the franchises were granted is not being given. There is no equity in the present situation.
 It is not just, reasonable or expedient to tolerate the continuance of such a situation. It should be undone. It is clear that the people have only one remedy. The Council should go into the courts. as in the case of the old Water Works, and upset the fran chises of the Street Railway. The Company is simply sitting down on its franchises. giving as little as possible tO uidlHtdiu IHetils III Lle nOpc, dppdT-
 ently. of selling them out at a big profit. Knock this selfish game in the
 head. Institute proceedings to vacate
 the franchises. and get in shape to dis pose of them to some concern that has
 the wisdom and the capital to make
 use of them for their own best inter
 ests as well as those of the city. =
 The Council meets Monday night. Let citizens make their representatives
 understand that they must do some | thing on this line. It seems the only
 feasible plan to get relief from the
 present intolerable conditions. Noth-
 ing today is interfering with Mont gopery's growth so much as its lack
 of a modern street car system. Noth- ing would do more to build it up than
 the wide-awake extension of street car
 lines in various directions, along with
 an adeqaute, reliable service of de-
 cent cars.
 l Will not the Council do something
 along this line? Will not the people agitate the matter and insist upon it !? |