The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-09-17
FEW OBJECTIONS
To FRANCHISES
City Council Heard Both Sides
of the Matter.
CONCESSIONS FROM ROADS
CITIZENS ASK FOR A FEW oRDI-
NARY SAFEGUARDS.

At a special session Of the city cum
Gil last evening the franchises asked
by the Short Line and the Rio Grande
Western railroads We're discussed pro
and con by the officials of the two sys-
TENS and the protestants. The lengthy
discussions brought out the fact that
Jhere VIII not be the opposition to the
franchises that many have been led to
peleVe. If the railroads will grant a
few minor concessions
Farley J.. Williams. the spokesman
Tor the Short Line, and Attorney Van
Colt, who filed the same role for the
lilo Grande Western, were positive in
their assertions that any and all legiti-
mate concessions asked for would be
granted. After the adjournment of the
council both sides expressed them
selves as well satisfied with the condi-
ton Of affairs as they exist
Report to Be Made Monday.
The franchises were discussed as the
council sat in committee of the whole.
When it arose it recommended that the
whole matter be referred back to the
streets and municipal laws committees,
with the city attorney and city en-
Eineer associated, to consider it fur
Their and submit report al the meet
lng OF the council next Monday evening.
The two committees, with Attorney
y
executive session Friday evening in the
council chambers. when the report to
the council win be formulated.
The council met at 7.45 o'clock. Just
Iong enough TO pass the payrolls Then
an adjournment was taken. At 500
O'Clock it met for the second time for
the purpose Of considering the two
franchises tt went into the commit
tee OF the whole, when Councilman
llaVeler made the motion. which passed,
that the protestants be heard first and
the railroad officials afterward The
Short Line franchise was taken ND
hrst. For two hours il was discussed.
II. A POLAND made the first address.
lie was followed by Bishop George r.
Emery. City Auditor Albert S Reiser
and +. T.. Rich. There being no other
protestants who wished to be heard
Mr.. Williams. the general attorney of
the Short Line, presented the railroads
side Of the matter.
Ask For Second Vaduct.
The protestants wished it distinctly
understood that they did not wish to
be placed IN the light Of kickers. They
welcomed the advent of a union depot
and additional railroad shops and the
expenditure of vast sums of money in
the city by the two roads. but al the
some time they thought it no more
IMAM right that the roads should be
forced TO make certain concessions be
Iore the franchises We're granted The
chief burden of complaint was that
only one viaduct is to be placed over
the tracks.
IL was argued that a second one. TO-
pedestrians only. should be constructed
across the tracks of the two roads on
south Temple street. There was con-
siderable talk of the advfsability of the
companies placing gates at the prin-
'HaI cross streets to guard against
Incidents and the removal Of certain
objectionable switches on Third West
street
The suggestion was made that the
IaATo2d companies should be compelled
10 place Nladucts across all the streets
from FIRST North to Fourth South
streets but Attorney Williams said
lhat such a provision in the franchise
would kill If for the time being. as il
would entail an additional expense OF
ABOUT SlO00000. which the roads could
not bear at this time.
Reasonable Concessions Granted
He said that the Short Line was will
Ing TO make concessions within rea-
son, as did also Attorney Van Colt.
speaking for the Rio Grande Western
road. They both admitted that there
were many little details which might
have been overlooked that could be
amicabiy adjusted if the opposition
would only make them known
city Auditor Reiser acted as the
spokesman for the opponents to the
Rio Grande Western road. He indi-
rectly served notice upon the of1cials
Of that road that the ballot and the
courts would be used against them
ana the Short Line as we'll if they at
tempted TO act Overbearingly in the
matter and tried to force their fran
chises through the city council with
out giving the citizens on. the west side
hn Fnrrr min
for.
The consensus Of opinion was that IL
the two roads would meet the citizens
Of the west side half way, and grant a
few minor concessions as regards
FENCES for protection, guard gates and
the construction Of foot viaduct in
conjunction with the larger one. that
there would be no marked opposition to
the granting Of the two franchises.
More than 200 citizens attended the
session OF the council and took an in
terest in the discussions. Among the
most prominent present were the fol-
lowing:
Those Who We're Present.
D. +. BUrley, general passenger agent
Oregon Short Line; d. s. Spencer. as
sistant general passenger agent; Par
ley L. Williams, general attorney; c..
n. Smith, assistant counsel; L. l.. Cal
win, general manager.
r. y Alley, city agent Rio Grande
Western; S. V. Derrah, assistant gen
eral freight agent; Claims Agent How
ard; j.. NJ. Allison and Waldemar Van
Colt, attorneys for the road; J. H
Young, general superintendent
Fisher Harris. secretary of CONNER
ci3l club; Joseph A. Silver. vice presi-
dent Commercial club; Street Super
visor Peter S. Condie, Joseph Baumgar-
ten. Joseph s. Wells, secretary street
car company; A. r. Derge. Charles
johnson. secretary Houston Real Is
tate Investment company: City Engi-
neer l. G. Kelsey. J. Il. Smith. Bishop
George r. Emery, u. Z. Rich, w. n.
Williams, eX-state senator: Attorney J.
II. Moyle. Henry DinwOodcy. Walter
Burton, Spencer Clawson. Chairman
board Of public works; w +. Howard.
engineer for electric light company:
Bishop George Romney, +. A. POLAND.
John T. Game. Thomas Hull. speaker
house representatives: r. X Thomas.
w. j. Newman. member board Of edu-
cation; State Senator Simon Bamber-
ger. w. s. Mccormick. Adjutant Cen
eraI Charles &. Burton, city Auditor
Albert s. Riser. o. J. Salisbury. w. w.
Ritter. George Smith City Attorney
George L. Nye, Health Commissioner
N. r. Stewart. @. w. Johnson.