Omaha daily bee., 1901-02-06


County Commissioner Harte spoke next
stating that the members OF the board were
unanimously in favor OF the establishment
OF the proposed interurban railway, but
wanted to protect the interests of the tax
payers in any franchise they might grant
For that reason they had, upon the petit
tion Of more than ten freeholders. re-
tained A. w. Jefferis as special counsel to
draft a suitable franchise. Mr.. Harte asked
Mr.. Jefferis to read the franchise.
Mr. Jefferis read the franchise as origin
ally drawn by him. in which II was provided
that perpetually good bond for $4,000
should be given by the company to secure
the county against any damages that might
be recovered on account Of injuries caused
by the existence and operation OF the rail-
road, and that the company should pay TO
the county a percentage Of its gross earn
ings beginning in It's fifth year of opera
tion. MIR. Jefferis explained that these i'm
portant provisions in the original draft
had been changed so that the franchise at
present provided only for a bond OF s25,OOO
to cover damages caused by and during
the construction of the road and for the
payment OF 2k per cent OF the gross re-
ceipts after the road had been in operation
twenty years.
Isaac Noyes spoke in favor OF granting
the franchise in its present form, without
placing any unnecessary restrictions upon
the company He said as long as the people
along the proposed route desired the road
no one else should object to II. The county,
in his opinion, had no right to charge any
royalty for the rights granted. as the oper-
alton of such a railway would be a con-
vcnience for the people and a general ben
eft to the county.
o. A. Wolcott said the farmers wanted
the road built and he did not believe the
city people ought TO put any obstacles in
the way of the enterprise. He believed
such road would be OF great advantage to
the farmers in marketing their products.
Neiser Voices Opposition.
John o. Yeser was not invited TO speak,
but he begged for time in which to state
a few objections to granting the franchise
in its present form. 81 don't want to be
understood" said he las being in oppo-
sition to the construction Of this or any
other suburban railway. Within few
years such roads are sure to be built in
this vicinity, regardless Of the efforts being
put forth by any of the gentlemen in this
room. Capital Is going to seek investments
OF this kind in this field in the near future.
and franchises will not have to go begging
u
| franchise confess that they have no money
to build the road and they simply want the
county to vote them a franchise to specu-
late upon. When a franchise is granted for
the construction of this or any other rail-
road 1t should protect the interests OF the
| people whose property is to be taken for
| private use. Maximum rates on freight and
| passenger traffic should be fixed in the
contract and the county commissio
should reserve to themselves the right to
regulate the rates in protection of the
shippers"
j. II. Dumont and George II. Payne ex-
pressed the sentiment that capital was not
on the anxious seat and its investment in
an enterprise of the kind under discussion
could be induced only by offering liberal
| conditions
| walsh Suggests Canton.
James Walsh said the proposed railroad
in his opinion, would be an injury instead