The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-05
IT GOES THROUGH.
Street Railway Franchise Pass
ed by the Council.
Company Has Three Years to
Locate Tracks.
NOT ON THE BRIDGE.
Rails Must Be Put on a Separate
Structure.
Gives Company Right to Use
Streets for 30 Years.
NOT ON THE BRIDGE.

At exactly 1910 o'clock Thursday
night the city council. meeting in the
office of the city attorney because the
council chamber is being used as a hos
pital for sick children, passed by I'M
animous vote the ordinance granting to
the Topeka Railway company a 30-year
franchise in the city of Topeka. Council
men Blossom and Howe were not pres
ent. and the ordinance therefore. receiv-
ed ten votes.
l. 2. Myers. vice president of the
company, stated to the council that the
company would be willing, if the city
desires, to build a temporary track
across the Melan bridge, so that street
car facilities can be given to North To-
peka Immediately. The company Of
GERS to rebuild the south approach to
the bridge. and build a temporary pile
bridge to connect the north end of the
bridge with the north bank of the riv-
er. Mayor Bergundthal and Council
man Kutz. OF North Topeka, are both
in favor OF this proposition, and it will
probably be adopted.
The company Is now negotiating. &C
cordlng to Mr.. Myers. for the purchase
Of q four-span steel bridge owned by
the Lehigh Valley railroad. Each span
s. Us feet, and a new span of $50 feet
will be built If the company can close
SITS deal with the Isehigh. This steel
bridge VIII be set up parallel with the
Melan bridge on concrete piers, so that
each pier WIN be parallel with the ex-
Ssting piers Of the AIelan bridge This
VIII prevent the blocking Of the channel
with drift which has been such a source
Of trouble with the old street car bridge.
The council took no action on Mr..
Myers proposition and unless called in
special session. will not meet again un-
Til June 18.
Besides the ordinance granting the
franchise. another long ordinance, sup
Elemental in nature, was passed, repeal
ing the great mass of street railway
ordinance which have been accumulat-
ing on the city's records for the past ten
years.
Both Of these ordinances were signed
By the mayor and Mr.. Myers agreed
mat the company VIII pay the cost OF
publication in the official city paper,
which Will make the ordinances efrec- 4
tive. The cost Of publication will be
about 500.
The company VIII begin work on the
new street railway at once. 1t has en-
gagged a superintendent Of construction,
C.. =. Collins, who COMES here from
Cincinnati, where he has been superin-
tendent of construction for the Cincin-
natl Traction company Mr.. Collins
succeeds Superintendent Ward, who Is
to be assigned to other work by Mr..
Myers Mr.. Collins is now in the city,
and attended the council meeting last
night.
The new ordinance was not changed
materially from the form approved by
the Commercial club, and by the cOun-
ell committee on ways and means, both
of which thrashed the matter over thor
Oughly-
Among other things, the franchise
prohibits the use of the Melan bridge
for car tracks; excerpts certain residence /
streets from car lines, and gives the
company the right to build over any
other streets for a period of three years,
after which it must apply to the coun-
ell for the right to lay tracks on any
other streets. It provides for a $40 600
bond to insure the completion of the
work according to agreement and the
expenditure of $500. 600 in the undertake
ing. 1t gives the company the right to
haul freight between the hours of mid
night and 6 a. m. This is to enable the
company to haul In rock from the Vine
wood Quarries, and to haul coal to Oak
land and bring in freight from the mills
and nurseries out there.
A hard fight was made by the mail
carriers for a provision in the ordinance
requiring the company to haul carriers
free when on duty, or to compel the
company to grant a cent fare to car
Fier5 on duty. The carriers already
have n limited number OF cent fare
tickets furnished them by the govern
ment but the company is figuring on
raising this rate The council decided
not to interfere in this matter, on the
ground that it is something which
should be left to the United States gov
eminent to arrange by contract.
Mr. Myers stated last night that the
company VIII build line mp East t1tth
Santa Re depot cars down on East Fifth