The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-04-05
RIO GRANDE WESTERN AND
SHORT LINE ARE AT ODDS
Vigorous Controversy Arises Over Franchises For
Tracks on Fourth West Street
Management of Gould Road Claims Attempt to Cut off From
Depot Site

tain and operate a passenger station
building and accessories az the point
shown on the plat and intended for o.
union depot with traCkage Tor the use
of the same, as shown By the plat
In case il Is desired, your petitioner is
entirely willing that the franchise Doe
granted so that the station may BE- used
by other railway companies, on their
paying such amount for trackage and
convenience ass would be equitable.
Manager Herbert's Views.
Manager J. NJ. Herbert Of the Rio
Grande, who was in the city until 3:I5
o'clock yesterday afternoon. takes the
ground that the action of the Short
Line in requesting the franchise is IL
deliberate thrust at the line of which
he is the head. He declares its object
is simply to render valueless the sits
and franchises for a passenger sta
ton that have been acquired by the
Rio Grande. Considering the fact that
the Rio Grande IS the largest indi-
vidual holder Of property along
Fourth West street In the vicinity in
question, Mr.. Herbert feels that the
council committee on streets should az
least have granted the company a
hearing before recommending the
granting of the franchise
THE Rio GraDde Western company
entered into the salt Lake City union
depot proposition in good faith" said
Mr. Herbert. This was evidenced by
their purchase Of a right Of way TO OBJ
tain an entrance TO the proposed depot
location or Third South and Fourth
West. The company would hardly eX-
pend such a large sum Of money I'M
less it meant to avail itself Of the
franchises extended by the city. The
Rio Grande Western was agreeable TO
the acceptance of the franchises as
passed by the city council, and was
prepared TO supply its portion of the
fund 20 proceed with the construction
Of a union station and trackage facili-
ties.
Says Short Line Withdrew.
"The Oregon Short Line withdrew
from the proposition and is now ask
ing for an independent franchise 10
enable them 10 build tracks through
the streets of the city, which can ne
Of no benefit to the people. but viii
be a hindrsnce TO the public welfare;
besides viii place an obstruction bee
tween the Rio Grande's present trsck-
age facilities. and their recently pur-
chased property FOR d union depot To-
cation The Rio Grande Western is
stin favorable to 6 union depot. and 81
the Short Line wishes to Join therein,
it has but to carry out its original
agreement Failing in this, the Rio
Grande Is prepared TO assume the re-
sDonsibility Of accepting independent
~. the proposition Of the city as 70
franchises. locations. etc, and VIII
agree to build a passenger depot, which
viii be a credit to salt Lake City ana
to the Rio Grande system. OF course,
I look for the council at its next sss-
sion to sustain US in our rights, az
we have been frank with them in all
our dealings.
s'If the Short Line had asked for a
franchise on the west side Of ne
street. we should not have interposedf
such serious objection, but the attempt
to get in between our tracks and depot
site does not look as If it was made +
in good faith"
Mr.. Bancrofts Denial.
General Manager W. II. Bancroft Of
the oregon Short Line denied that
there was any intention 10 interfere
with the Rio GTande-
I'VE simply desire access to the
union depot site" he declared. We
are ready to 90 ahead with the build
ing Of the depot on the site at Fourth
West and Second South streets and we
wish a franchise to allow US to build
our tracks in there"
General Superintendent Z. E. Cali
vim declared also that there was 10
intention Of making trouble for the Rio
Grande.
1--WE are in favor Of a union depot"
ne said. "and If there IS any with
drawaI it is on the part Of the Rio
Grande. It looks rs If they were do
ing the same thing here that they did
in Pr0vo-agree to build depot and
then back out
General Passenger Agent D. z. Bur
lev stated that the Short Line wished
permission to build these tracks to
give il better access to the present
depot after the building Of the Cali
fornia extension
we need these tracks in connection
with that line" he said. We don't want
to hurt Che Rio Grande, and this viii
not hurt II. We couldn't 90 on the
west side Of the street because we
would have to cross all the Rio Grande
tracks. which would make IL exceed
fnglv dangerous The franchise we
ask is perfectly legitimate It Is for
the good Of salt Lake and we are en-
titled to it."
Talmage Slightly Improved.
washington. April 4-There was