The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-05-21
COUNCIL TURNS
DOWN THE VETO
Oregon Short Line Gets Fourth
West Street Privileges.
Rio GRANDE STILL OBJECTS
FRANCHISE FOR WEST SIDE OF
STREET NOT ACCEPTABLE.

.AF AYoR THoMPsON's veto of the
MI franchise granted to the oregon
Short Line Railroad company for
track privileges along the east side of
Fourth West street was overriden in the
city council last evening by a decisive
vote. Counciluen Robertson and Thomas
were the only ones TO champion the ox-
ecutive's view Of the situation.
Consideration Of this veto had the
right Of way, and after a couple Of hours
of labored discussion, the council recessed
until this evening to consider the veto
of the Utah lake pumping scheme and
other unfinished business. With Arnold
absent on account Of his son becoming
stricken with appendicitis, there were not
enough votes to override the mayors OBJ
jectiOns TO making contract with the
canal companies.
Considered with the mayors veto Of the
Short Line franchise ordnance was a
communication from Superintendent We'll
by Of the Rio Grande Western. requesting
that Il be amended TO provide for the
occupancy by the Short Line of the west
side Of the street in conformity with the
recommendation in the veto message, and
renewing the assurance that II this be
done. the Rio Grande viii build a pas
senger depot for itself and the use of
other railways entering this city. at a
cost Of 10000, as has been heretofore
proposed.
Discussion was commenced by Fern
strom saying that the Rio Grande had
not applied for a franchise. He contend
ed that the Short Line has much more
property than the Rio Grande has on the
east side OF Fourth West street. and that
the assurances Of the latter company to
build a union depot are not in good
faith.
Pleading For the Rio Grande.
Robertson reminded Fernstrom that the
Rio Grande has applied for a depot fran
chise on Fourth West street His con-
tention was that to change the ordinance
so that the Short Line would occupy the
west side Of the street would necessitate
a less number Of crossings, leaving the
RIO Grande unObStructed approach 70
ITS depot site and resulting in the ereC-
ton Of two independent depots. He urged
that the council go into committee Of the
whole to give opportunity to the railroad
representatives to agree. If possible. on a
plan whereby the Rio Grande would not
be subjected to the annoyance Of having
a rivals through track running in front
of its depot
The fact that the fight between the
railroad companies had come before the
council for settlement was deplored by
Thomas, and he, too, favored consider
ing the question in committee of the
whole. in the hope that an ARRANGEMENT
might be made so that the Short Line
track would be west Of the Rio Grande
track within the limits of the latter's new
depot site.
over the opposing votes of Eardley and
FernStrOm, the council adjourned to the
mayors office in committee of the whole
Attorney P L. Williams presented the
side OF the Short Line by saying the east
side Of Fourth West is the natural side
for his road to take. while it would be
absurd TO require It to be on the west of
the Rio Grande track.
Short Line Declines West Side.
Chairman Thomas asked II there would
be any objection to the Short Line taking
the west side with the prOviso that when
ever the Short Line entered into a union
depot compact with the Rio Grande. the
track might be moved to the east Of the
latter's track.
Attorney Williams promptly replied
Yes, for the stated reason that it would
require the Short Line to cross and re-
cross the Rio Grande. Mr.. Williams fol-
lowed this up by saying that nothing
Would De achieved by cOncurring in the
mayor recommendation, and for one
reason he claimed that the Short Line
owned nearly ten times as much land on
me east side OF the street as the Rio
On behalf of the Rio Grande. Attorney
van Cott said that all Of the tracks lead
ing INTO the new depOth would have to be
crossed SIX or eight times at each end bv
me Short Line within the depot limits If
the snort Line occupied the east side of
the street, while if the Short Line were
on the west side there would need to be
only Two crossings. This condition he
added, would defeat the Rio Grande's
| depot project whereas the MAYORS
recommendation would result in only
slight inconvenience to the Short Line and
I the city would benefit by having another
depot to cost not less than 100000.
IN conclusion, Mr.. Van Colt proposed
! nnH srr~f- Ia H.
giving the Short Line the use Of the east
side Of the street if the Rio Grande fails
70 build the depot it is willing TO oblgate
/ itself to build.
Railroad Men Have Say.
Superintendent Young explained how
the Rio Grande could move its main depot
track to the east letting the Short Line
( in between that and the through rack,
and Superintendent Welby showed how
( impractiCable this would be to the Rio
Grande and result in irreparable damage
to the depot project, by reason Of trains
Of another road running in front Of its
depot at a speed OF eight miles an hour.
On reassembling in the council chamber
Eardley declared in favor of the Short
Line because the Rio Grande intended to
have the east half Of the street for a dis
lance Of three bolcks closed to public
travel
The question was then put. Shall the
action Of the council stand, nOtwithstand-
ing the objections Of the mayor and
on a rOllcall vote the required ten votes
/ were recorded in the affirmative. Only
/ Robertson and Thomas voted in the mega
tive, A. j. Davis, Hewlett and Arnold be-
l ing the absentees.
Robertson explained his vote by saying
I he believed it to be for the best interests
of the people to sustain the veto, while
Robinson gave the same reason for Vot-
/ ing to override II.
Sundry Communications.
! Before the railroad franchise veto was
taken IN a miscellaneous lot of cOmmuni-
cations were read. The invitation Of
Z Chairman Clark Of the G.. A. r. Memorial
| day committee to the mayor and the
I council to take part In the days obr
! servances was accepted
/ The use of the council chamber was
| granted to the Utah volunteers and the
I Philippine veterans for holding meet
! ings.
a petition from President Kingsbury to
use water from Emigration canyon for
/ irrigation purposes on the state university
/ grounds was referred TO the waterworks
/ committee.
( Several proprietors of restaurants and
! safes petftioned for the abolition Of lunch
/ wagons from the streets, for the stated
/ reason that they monopoiize night trade
/ and demoralize business. The petition
| was referred
81 Reynolds applied for the privilege Of
4 Openiug a red stand stone quarry near
t FnsiEn peak. The petition was referred.
/ The petition Of p. r. Farnsworth and
. others for an electric light on Eagle Gate
/ was referred
Full Dress.
Detroit Free Press)
A belated traveller. who was compelled