The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-07-20
CAR LINE ON
TOPEKA AVENUE
Franchise Committee viii
Report in Favor of 1t.
WILL SATISFY THE PEOPLE
Said Councilman ScheII--Em-
pOria Ave. to Be Exempt
WILL SATISFY THE PEOPLE

When the franchise and license com
uittee Of the city could make its report
next Monday evening it will recommend
to the council that they ask the wichita
Electric Railway and Power company TO
build line on south Topeka avenue
and a franchise VIII be presented TO that
effect. The report OF the committee has
lot been formulated yet, but Council
man Schell and Reynolds, with the city
attorney held a meeting yesterday after
noon. and il was agreed 10 have the line
built on Topeka avenue instead Of En-
poria. But two OF the members Of the
committee are III the city and they have
decided on report to that effect. Coun-
Gilman Scheu. chairman of the commit
tee, in speaking OF the matter yesterday
10 q reporter Tor the Eagle said:
AT first I was in favor Of granting
the franchise for Emporia avenue There
were great many people who wanted it
on that street, but have since learned
that these people would be satisfied if it
vas built on Topeka avenue. The Street
Car company now control every street
running north and south Of Douglas eve.
nue except Lawrence and Emporia ave
nues and they have presented no reason
why they should take another street
They simply stated that they would bald
aline on Emporia and not on Topeka, and
we win recommend that the council ask
them to buila on Topeka II the com
pany refuse 10 do this. they win forfeit
their franchise, according 10 advice from
the city attorney, and that viii leave a
way open FOR another street railway in
that section Of the city If this company
viii not build one. The present company
has shown no financial reason why they
could not make as much money from
the line on South Topeka as on South
Emporia, so we VIII not grant them a
franchise for that street.
During the hearing last Wednesday it
seemed 10 me that more people present
were in favor Of building the line than
those who demonstrated against IL But
I also found that those who wanted the
line on South Emporia were perfectly
willing 10 have it built on South Topeka
AL they wanted was a street car line
to the south part Of the city and east
Of the Main street line and west Of the
Topeka want the line built down their
street, but We're willing 20 have It built
on Emporia- They wanted rapid transit
in their part of town. If the company
viii not build a line down Topeka ave-
nue. within certain length of time. then
their franchise VII become void and il
Mr.. Scott and his company mean business /
they can have the franchise.
M. Reynolds stands hatfooted against 4
granting the franchise on Emporia ave
nue. and since our conference with the (
city attorney. 1 have agreed with him
ard SUCH viii be our report I have no
interest in the matter and want .
to do what viii seisfy The greatest num- (
Der 81 PEOPLE and ! believe with 1dr. Rey- 4
nolds that the South Topeka line VIII .
Be- satisfactory TO all concerned
I'VE have sent communication to /
Commodore Nelson, manager of the com t
pany. asking him what they viii do re-
gsrding the building of a line on Topeka .
avenue and we expect to receive an ans
wer Monday, ana this win probably be /
embodied in our report"