Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1902-11-26
At a Meeting Of the City Council il is
Practically Decided to Accept
Franchise.
TO ENTER BY EIGHTH AVENUE
President Harlow Says It is the Only
Route by Which They Can Get
Into the City.

N ePSNioi ulttllub Va IhN N'ty Ncuh
ell was called last night by Mayor
Cook to confer with Messrs. Harlow,
Rantoul and Robertson, officers of the
Montana Railroad Co., with reference
to the franchise, drawn up by the lat.
ter gentlemen, which, If passed by
the council. gives the Montana Rail-
road Co. the privilege of building a
road through the city of Lewistown.
A full council was present and many
citizens of the town, who are vitally
interested. one way or the other, were
also promptly on hand to voice their
approval or disapproval of the pro-
posed franchise, or any part thereof,
Both sides were heard with respectful
attention by the council and the de-
liberate manner in which they are act
ing upon the matter, plainly shows
that they appreciate fully the impor-
tant bearing which the franchise will
have on the future of the city and
the necessity of carefully looking into
all phases of the question before max
ing their ultimate decision.
After calling the council to order
Mayor Cook announced that Presi-
dent Harlow, of the railroad company,
wound be heard upon the franchise
from his point of view- President
Harlow spoke at some length. stat
ing courteoulsy, but emphatically, the
position of the road with reference
to its entrance to the city, it's desire
to conform as nearly as possible to
the wishes and conyeniences of a ma
jority Of the citizens of Lewistown,
and the necessity OF the road regard
ing first. in selecting a route through
the city, the engineering feasibility
of such route. Beginning with Fifth
avenue, he clearly showed the i'm
practicability of entering by any 9TH
er route than by Eighth avenue, the
route proposed in the franchise. Both
Fourth and Fifth avenues are objec-
tionable for the same reason, viz:
In order to make the grade it would
be necessary to make long and ex-
pensive detour, requiring about two
miles of extra track before getting
to yards within a reasonable distance
OF the town. Again on Sixth avenue
there would have to be acut from five
to ten feet deep and thousand feet
long, in order to get through the hill
commencing at Watson street and ex-
tending to the city limits. On Sew
enth avenue there would have to be
either a cut of four feet or an eleva-
tion of four feet, thus being neither
deep enough to bridge over, nor high
enough to tunnel under. On Ninth
avenue the road would have to go
through both the old and the new
cemeteries. and, in the opinion OF the
speaker, cemetaries cannot be con-
demned for railroad purposes, and
even IL they could. people would OBJ
ject to such a proceeding. Then"
continued Mr.. Harlow, there remains
but one course for us to get into the
city, and that Is by Eighth avenue"
He touched briefly upon other ar
ticles of the franchise and answered
quetsions asked, and objections inter-
posed. by councilmen and citizens.
At the conclusion of President Har-
lows speech, at his suggestion, Chief
Engineer Robertson got his maps,
charts and profles and carefully went
over the entire route. explaining the
technical engineering features and the
Typographical difficulties to be met
with in attempting to bring the line
into town from any other route than
Eighth avenue.
Upon motion of Alderman Symmes.
the franchise was then taken up by
the council and discussed section by
section, with the railroad officials.
The motion carried and at the request
Of the, mayor Mr.. Symmes read the
franchise. A few alterations were
made. President Harlow standing
ready to accede to any reasonable de-
mGnds of the council
Among others was the refusal OF
the city to grant the railroad company
the right to lay private water mains
along the streets and alleys. II was
also agreed to by the company to lay
but single track. without spurs or
switches, from the intersection OF
Montana and Boulevard streets TO the
city limits. few points arose where
the advice of the city attorney would
nave been acceptable. but that official
was not present. After some desultory
discussion it was proposed that anoth-
er franchise containing the amend
mems agreed upon be drawn and that
final action on the matter be postpon-
ed until the next regular meeting OF
the city council, next Monday night
This proposition carried and after an
informal polling Of the vote OF the
council to determine its probable ac-
ton when the franchise does come up
for final consideration. an adjourn
ment was taken until the next regu.
lar meeting next Monday night. From
the poll II is shown beyond any doubt,
the franchise will be favorably acted
upon and probably by unanimous
vote.
The PASSING OF the Antelope.