The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-07-31
COMMERCE AVE. TRACKS.
A Presentation Of The Railway Com.
psuy's View Of the Case.
CONTRARY VIEWS OF A LAWYER.
Monopoly Would Be Complete Without
Special Agreement IN contraet---A
Case OF Joint Tracks In Dallas.

In regard to the Commerce street track
proposition. the International and Great
Northern's contention in the matter Is
stated about as foliows
4 wholesale district is necessity Tor
uous;on's future growth; the city Is al
ready handicapped by the fact that such a
district has not been built up. The com
pany has offered payment for the use or
the street In that IL Is proposed to DO
large part OF the paving and 10 maintain
the whole street after It is once paved a
new bridge Is to be put In for BOTH the
track aud the use OF wagons and lights
are TO be maintained at each Of tue stfert
crossings though in truth there Il NO VS.
uf the crossings lOr the reason that W
street is practically the end VI thc GUY
az the point whore the company desires 40
p@ down It's track with nutnns oeSghL ~
uraN vehicles across IL. ia tact. AZ " nov
stands, very htte uie IL na mauy is ae.
sized TO put Ia the track IL ofuer tlht lAt
necessary Wholesale district may DC ue'
As TO the assertion that monopoly would
be created the company answers that SD
thlus Is an impussipIlity uhati rae rug
Of the railroad commission. Inc fait
provide that cars OF every company L.ls'
be handled and the cnurge tor such seFN-
Ice has been nNed, rhg cars o. othtt iiIe
must be handled without dlseilmIualVA
and a shipper may route his gouis az ne
picases Win the assurance tAdl tAe iouber
10 whom they are consigned Viii get them
Just as soon by one Hue Us py tue other
after they have reached Houston
As to the assertion tl0t the pINItEt
asked Is worth 81 per foot. the coinplhE
answers that the price would not he III
fair II the ground were being couNeyel III
fee. simple and carried with u exclusive
use The franchise asked is ior one Track
IN the center Of the street from tHnulh To
Mllam aud two sldetrUrks near he earn
from Fannln % Main, and even n ever!
foot Of these tracks be occupied ccnllnuU u.s.
~ by cars the total space occupl"u Nvuiu
be 1920 square feet WORTH according 70
the basis mentioned. $2j. fn-a reasonable
figure provided that IL was conveyed f.r
eSciu%iye u.s.. MS ndmlttcd by the company.
But the company contends that III is ~ 't
asking the city ~ give Nc any part az Ihe
IN commoA with other clllzrns aud under
such regulations az the council may adopt
q part Of IL for the benefit of Those most
Interested the merchants doing hustnc s
on that street: and the benefit u the city
as whole In that 70 would tend t1 thr
creation Of q wholesale district convenient
TO the TRACKS Of all companies iot Clue slt.
ment OF goods 10 other points ana iog
drHyage 70 the retailers OF Houston.
II is further stated that while ~ has
never been customary here or clscV here ~
the State o. make n charge fus such q
franchise. the company has voluntarily ut
f1red TO nay about $500 IN cash and t(
and maintenance beyond the requirement.
OF the present ordinances; the rtacwni al
the bridge across Finnn street viii cost
Is is stated, between $1,000 and $4,000
the maintenance Of the pavement botweel
Fannin and Milan will. lt Is figured b'
the company, mean an expenditure of so
per year and the lights VIII bee an Hddi
tional cost Or 1892 per alnum From TN
standpoint Of the company, the rHVUcS
made OF the city y reasonable and Is Ia
tended as mutual arrangement, the com
psny expects To gain by II and Is within
70 pay for that opportunity, but It Is no
willing to nor can 1t afford 10 nay mo-
PRIVILEGES