Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-09-21
COUNC|LMEN
MEET OFFICIALS.
Short Line and Rio Grande Rep.
sentatiyes State Their Position
Regarding Franchises.
HITCH COMES ON FOURTH WEST
Rio Grande Wants to Buy Track
That is Not for Sale Lively
Debate In Yards.

Ten members of the city council, ac-
companed by the operating, legal and
engineering representatives of the Ore
gon Short Line and the Rio Grande
Western. held an Informal session at
the intersection of Fourth West and
First North shortly after 10 o'clock
this morning amid the racket OF switch
engines for the purpose OF arriving at
an understanding prior to meeting IN
the council chamber this afternoon to
discuss the franchise sought by the
Rio Grande to lay double track on
Fourth West parallel to the Oregon
Short Line tracks.
General Superintendent j. II. Young
OF the Gould line had the matter In a
nutshell for presentation to the coun-
cilmen. He said that his company
stood ready to purchase the Oregon
Short Line track TO the west. THE Rio
Grande viii buy the track at a fair
valuation, which we will leave to dis
interested arbitrators: on the other
hand we will pay all the expense OF
moving the Oregon Short Line tracks
few feet TO the east so as to give us
IoVlli ne announced,
NO TRACK FOR SALE.
This statement would have been the
solution of the present hitch In pro-
Ceedings as far az the Rio Grande is
concerned. but Assistant General Man
ager r., f. Calvin did not respond with
alacrity. "The oregon Short Line has
no track for sale" he said "and when
II comes to moving tracks over, we
have not foot Of land TO spare. Any
moving of tracks would necessltate the
purchase Of additional holdings"
He went on to state that the Oregon
Short Line had spent over $500, 1000 In
acquiring property on the east side OF
Fourth West and the Rio Grande was
at liberty to do the same on the west
side of the street without asking the
Short Line to virtually purchase their
right of way for them, which would be
the case II the Short Line moved It's
tracks over.
SAID go AND BUY"
Mr. Calvin suggested that the Rio
Grande go ahead and purchase what
realty they required the same as the
Oregon Short Line had done. To this
Mr.. Yong came back with the assertion
that the Rio Grande had purchased real
estate In Salt Lake. The Short Line
official seemed surprised at this state
ment, but Mr. Young enlightened him
by stating that the purchases antedated
his arrival in Salt Lake.
SOME SHARP QUESTIONING.
Everybody present this morning took
q hand at asking questions.and at times
there were some acrimonious answers
a. 4. f.nN
rules were produced. and II was quick
ly demonstrated that unless the Ore
gon Short Line would move over to the
west Il would be impossible to put down
double tracks for the Rio Grande with
out virtually closing Fourth West
from South Temple to Fifth North.
suPT. YouNGs CLAIMS.
General Supt J. II. Young main
tanned, providing the Short Line moved
It's tracks few feet to the west, that
It would be possible to put down tracks
with IA l2-foot center without closing up
the street. The majority present how
ever, conceded that l2-foot center tracks
were dangerous for the latest style wide
cars, despite the fact the New York
Centrals four track system was laid
on that basis.
W ny cannot you nc content WIN u
single track" was asked by Atty. Par
ley L. Williams and Mr.. calvin, Mr.
Young said that they needed q double
track, and upon being told that they
didn't he Informed the Short Line Of
iiclals that he was the best judge Of
the needs of the Rio Grande.
PRO AND CON,
The party broke up into knots and
discussed the situation pro and con. 70
the disinterested spectator II looked as
though the council stood three to seven
I'm favor of granting the double trackage
asked by the Rio Grande. All were I'm
favor Of giving the road as many
tracks MS II asked for. providing I'm so
doing II did not close w the street and
work hardship on those dwelling In
the vicinity, Under existing circum-
stances, however the putting down Of
two more tracks on Fourth West would
close that street for Ave blocks, Three
counclmen from the cast side seemed to
think the best interests OF the city
would be served by granting the fran
chise, The rest did not think so,
AN OLD FRANCHISE.
The track which the Rio Grande
wants to purchase and which IL not
for sale, E1s put down under a fran
chlse granted by Congress TO the old
Utah Central. Dec. IS, 1870. or nearly
a year prior to Salt Lake city filing
her maps Of location.
FLAGMEN AND GATES.
While on the ground the matter Of
nagmen and gates at grade crossings
ON Fourth West was brought IN Mr..
Calvin and Mr.. Young both promptly
promised that az soon as the franchises
were granted and work on the improve
ments commenced that the public would
be protected and anything asked by the
council In reason would be promptly
complied with in this direction
THOSE WHO SAW.