The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-10-22
AVE DEXTER AvENuEl

pany. in a general franchise for O new
system of street railways. the right to
put down a third track on Dexter Ave-
nue. between Lawrence Street and Court
Square.
For several months the Traction Conn
many has been at work building q line TO
Pickett Springs and also another in the
western part Of the city. No effort has
been made to build any line on Dexter
Avenue or to connect the two parts. Pre-
sumably this delay has been due either
to negotiations looking to consolidation
Of both the street car systems. or to an
arrangement with the Montgomery Street
Railway, the old company. for the use
of its tracks In the congested centse Of
the city.
On Monday night certain property
owners on Dexter Avenue presented a
petition to the City Council to repeal that
part of the Traction CompanEs franchise
giving 1t the right to build a third track
on Dexter Avenue. An ordinance to that
effect was also introduced. This ordi-
nance was referred to Committee and
goes over, under the rules. to the next
meeting of the Council.
Yesterday the Traction Company went
TO work to prepare Lawrence Street on
the block north of the Avenue for track
laying. Elsewhere In this issue in a news
article 1t is announced that work for the
third track on Dexter Avenue will be be-
gun this morning. 1t looks as If this
quick move was the result of the petition
and ordinance offered on Monday even
ing.
The Advertiser does not desire to take
sides In any contest between the two
street car systems for supremacy, except
In SO far as the situation may concern
the public welfare. This paper has been
theaadvocate Of progress in Montgomery's
street car service. as has been demon
strated by its severe arraignment of the
old system before its change of owner
ship. and by its encouragement of the
new system. 1t believes the new manage
ment Of the old company is trying to i'm
prove its service. and hence has been
treating It with the kindest considera-
ton. 1t Is convinced also that the new
company is a most desirable enterprise,
wants to see it succeed. and hopes it will
secure every reasonable consideration
from the Council.
So much Cor the situation today, and
The Advertisers relation to 1t. Now to
the point. The Advertiser believes it
would be o great blunder for the city
TO permit O third track put down on Dex-
ter Avenue. 1t is convinced that the peo-
pie of Montgomery do not want this SUI
perb street, the pride of the city and OF
the State. marred in that way. Neither dc
| we believe that the public ever expected
to see the privilege used when 1t was
granted. Nor do we believe that the IN
terest Of either company requires any
such DETACHMENT of the Avenue or sacri-
Zee on the part of the public. There is
no adequate reason why the old company
should not permit the new to use its
tracks under fair arrangement.
Certainly the Council should force the
two companies to use the same tracks for
the few blocks necessary, If that result
cannot be brought about in any other
| way. The street car franchises were
| outright gifts to both companies. and in
neither case was there a-deed in fee simple
to any street. The public welfare is
supreme and should control
Such results as this have been brought
about in other cities and can be secured
here Ten times as many cars can safely
run on the two tracks as are now run;
it is done in many cities, some Of them
not much larger than Montgomery. There
is no fundamental objection to such an ar
rangement, so far as the public is con-
cerned, but every argument in its favor.
1t is to be hoped that the city -uthori-
ties will find some way this morning to
stop the proposed work on Dexter Ave
nue. promptly. until the matter can be
settled by amicable arrangement or by
ordinance from the Council. The Adver-
tiser is not learned in the law, but it is
confident that there must be some legal
resource to which officials or citizens can
turn in this emergency, if such a step
is necessary.
BY all means let there be action imme-
diately this morning. Let the Avenue be
preserved from further surrender to street
car tracks.
-S-o-S-
Says The Huntsville Republican:
The Montgomery Advertiser has gone
to find an issue to fight the Republicans
on. This Is no more than We expected,
for The Advertisers editor can no more
help wandering back into the past every