The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-15
FIX IT TO SUIT.
Commercial Club Talks About
City Railway Franchise.
Company Insists on Crossing
Melan Bridge.
BLANKET" FEATURE.
That Appears to Be a Point of
Contention.
A New Ordinance Will Be Drawn
Up.
'BLANKET'' FEATURE.

The Topeka Commercial club is going
to fix up a street railway franchise and
ask the council to pass it. This action
was decided upon at a meeting of the
club Thursday night
In the preparation of the franchise
ordinance T. f. Doran will represent
the railway company, Charles F. Spen-
GER will represent the city and the re-
suit of their work viii be submitted to
A. L. Williams and T. F. Carver for
revision and approval Mr. Williams
and Mr.. Carver will submit the or
dinance to the Commercial club, and
the Commercial club will approve it
and send it over to the council. A spe-
cial meeting of the club to consider the
ordinance has been called for next
Thursday night.
By this method it seems that Topeka
should be able to get a franchise
which protects its interests thoroughly.
Judge Williams knows exactly how
such an ordinance should be drawn,
and Judge Carver is even more radical
than Judge Williams in his ideas of
howefar the city should be protected.
There really seems to be very little
ground for disagreement between the
city and the railway company.
The company seems to want the right
to build over the Melan bridge, but
the city would never consent to such a
move. 1t would be political suicide for
a councilman to favor such a PROPOSE
ton.
The principal thing talked about at
the Commercial club meeting last night
was the blanket franchise question
which seems to be considerable of
Noble talked as though they We're in
favor of blanket franchise. Judge
Carver Jonathan Thomas, Z. Z.
Roudebush and others emphatically de
clared that the company should be
forced to set forth in the ordinance ex-
actly what streets it proposes to &C
cupy.
L. E. Myers. speaking in behalf of the
company. asked that the company be
given from three to five years in which
to select what streets they want to oc-
cupy. and al the end of that time be
limited to those streets, and such others
as may be specifically granted to them
by the city council
1T is absolutely impossible for us to
select the streets we want at this
time" said Mr. Myers. We expect to
take up some track which IS not located
for the most economical operation of the
property. We can trust the council in
most things. but you know how it is
when a cOuncilman's constituents get
after him You can't tell what VIII
happen. We will probably want to re-
locate some lines to take care of new
business We ask the privilege to do so
for a limited term of years. and have
it specified in the franchise that at the
expiration of that time, we can occupy
no additional streets without permission
from the council"
There seems to be large number
of people at the meeting disposed to
look faVOra bly, upon this presentation
of the case A. L. Williams. who was
present at the meeting. IS one who
thinks that the company should be
given a reasona bic time, two years in
his judgment, IN which to locate It's
tracks Judge Carver thinks that two
weeks ought to be time enough.
Very little was said to indicate what
lines will be taken up and which ones
relocated Edward Wilder. who IS d.
doctor of the company, stated that he
did not believe the present route would
be much changed. Mr.. Myers minated
that the West Sixth line might be made
to do the work of the West Fourth line.
West Fourth is one of the lines which
doesn't go any place in particular.
Some changes are also likely in the line
to the Santa F'e depot and some of the
suburban lines may be changed to en-
able them to reach localities where they
VIII get more business. The Jackson
street line. which is very little used,
may be taken up. The earning capacity
of the various lines will no doubt deter
mine largely what changes shall be
made.
There were over fifty prominent bust
: ness men present at the meeting last
night, besides the representa- tives of the
street railway. Short speeches were
made by z. w. Wilson. L. E. Myers and
B. F. Sunny, the chief owners of the
road.
The ways and means committee of
the council, after finishing up a little
business at their committee room, ad-
journed to the Commercial club
A. L. Williams was called upon for
speech and addressed the Commercial
I setting
same views which he expressed before
the ways and means committee a week
ago, as fully reported in the State
! Journal The principal point which he
urged was that the franchise be drawn
to include everything which the COM
/ pany has proposed to do. He told a
funny story of an experience which jay
/ Gould had with a railroad attorney
named Erb. and which cost Gould $780,
/ 0O0, becaus he failed to read the con-
tract.
l. z. Myers then answered some of
the suggestions which Mr. Williams had
made He said that the company was
/ willing to agree to the following things.
l. Traffic agreement with any subur =
/ ban road which may come into Topeka.
on a basis OF ) cents for each passenger
hauled over the city railway lines.
Q Specifications in the franchise as
to the weight of rails. size of cars, and
1 construction of track.
E z. Roudebush objected to a blank
4 ct franchise. He said it enabled the
company to build on street, greatly TO
! the injury of that street. and in spite
I of the protests of the residents. He said
it injured property on the street.
Can you name a single street in To-
peka which has been Injured by having
a car line built on it?" asked John r.
! Mulvane.
yes. Clay street." said Mr.. Roude-
bush. That street IS in terrible condi-
ton. and property would be worth more
without the car track there"
Mr.. Roudebush objected to the plac-
ing of double tracks on the Helan
bridge. Frank Kelley, manager of the
Vinewood line. argued that it would not
interfere with traffic to 1Aave a single
track on the bridge. and Mr.. Roudebush
/ agreed to this. Mr.. Roudebush also SAID
/ that the franchise should provide for g.
-. .-.-L..,-- .-...-.....