The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1903-04-10
ELECTRIC FRANCHISE GRANTED.

=. ELECTRIC FRANCHISE GRANTED.
the Rockford, Beloit q GAINESVILLE Line
Given the Franchise in That City.
At special meeting of the common
council in GAINESVILLE Monday evening
the GAINESVILLE Traction Co. was given
franchise for extending the Rockford,
Beloit & GAINESVILLE electric line through
that city, there being only one vote, that
of Aid. Mills, recorded against its pass
age. The Recorder says the offers of the
line were such that it seemed hardly
possible for the council to turn down
their proposition, for they offered to
carry passengers from one end of the city
to the other on one fare, and also allowed
an amendment to the franchise which
allows through passengers the right to
lay over in this city.
At the opening of the meeting the city
clerk read petitions from fully dozen
different places asking the council to
grant the petition of the GAINESVILLE Trac-
ton Co. They were from the employees
of the Rock River Machine Co., The New
Doty Works, Rock River Wooden Co., J.
Thoroughbred & Co., F. M. Marzluff &
Co., Jeffris Co., Choate- Hollister Co.,
two petitions from merchants in Rock
ford and one from merchants in Beloit.
There was one from many GAINESVILLE
granted permission to build a second
track on Main street from Court to E.
Milwaukee street. provided the company
could not purchase the line of the local
company. All communications were
read and placed Oh file. )"
: After reading the petitions the clerk
then read a communication from Mr..
Clough of the interurban line in which
it was proposed that the GAINESVILLE
Traction Co. would accept transfers from
the present interurban line within the
city limits.
Alderman Rice, of the highway COM
mittee, then brought up the matter of
the railway franchises and said that the
committee had met several times and
that they had considered the matter
from every point and that they had been
spoken to by many of the leading bust
ness men and citizens regarding the
matter and that the opinion of the COM
mittee was that the franchise should be
granted to the GAINESVILLE Traction Co., \
and there was also an amendment read
to the original ordinance which provided
that the company might use other streets
than those proposed in the original ordi-
nance, and also that transfers should be
accepted from the Beloit, Delavan Lake
and GAINESVILLE line.
When it came to the amendment pro-
viding for the transfers and making the
fare in the city only five cents, Alderman
Mills voted no. and when it was explain
ed to him as to the amendment, he
called for a reconsideration and the
amendment was passed. Then the rules
were suspended and the ordinance was
given it's third reading and passed, and
is now ready for the signature of the
mayor.
The action of the common council at
GAINESVILLE in settling the contest be-
tween two rival companies seeking
franchise for an extension of an electric
line between GAINESVILLE and Madison,
now opens the way for speedy action
upon similar franchises at Edgerton and
Stoughton. The intermediate points
have been awaiting the outcome at
GAINESVILLE and now that the r. B. & J.
people were successful there, but little
trouble ought to be experienced in Sc
curing franchise rights through the con-
Meeting links.
The towns this side of GAINESVILLE had
no choice as to whom the privileges were
granted, provided the parties asking
them meant business and intended the
construction of the line promptly. They
will undou btedly recognize the adyant-
ages of through line construction and
that Mr.. Clough has financial backing
that believes in the construction and op-
GRAFTON of first class electric line. For
this reason, possibly, they are to be con-
graduated that the franchise has fallen
to his company.