The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1903-10-23
Mckinley FRANCHISE
GRANTED BY COUNCIL

The important feature of the city
council meeting Friday night was the
action of tbs council ON tsas franchise
.of the Salem Terminal Traction com
Pany. or, rather. Homer b Mckinley,
representing tAat company. The .orii-
nance passed its second reading by the
unanimous consent Of the council and
became one OF the laws of the city. after
Counilman Frank r. Moore made n
lengthy and senaible speech supporting
L. another featare of the council was
the passage. upon fts first reading Of an
ordinance granting a franchise to A. NJ.
4. Cunningham ana George G. Stone, TO
operate an electric light plant, using the
streets of the city for the purpose There
was some opposition to this, as shown by
the vote, but sufficient majority in its
favor TO pass it on to its second reading.
All the members OF The council were
in attendance except Councilman Hart,
whose absence was accounted for on &C.
count of sickness. The mayor was in
the chair of the presiding officer, and
City Clerk Code was at his desk, as ms
nal, efficiently diseharging his duties AMI
giving the city one of the best adsninis-
traticns of that Office. and. perhaps, the
best the city ever had.
The reading of the minutes of the pre-
vious meeting was dispensed with, upon
motion OF Councilman Seely.
Under tie head of unfinished business
the Mckinley street railway ordinance
came up. Attorney C. B. johnson pre-
sented petition signed by Al Reynolds,
c. R. Boegess. Mrs. J. W. Gordon, Charles
F. Thompson. Linn Osborn, j. H. Som
mervflle, Frank Reynolds. Davis Stewart,
Homer Bartlett, i. H. Moore and il Gus
man, protesting against the granting of
. franchise for the use Of Locust street
dor street railway and asking the coun-
ell to refuse the same. Mr. johnson
spoke at some length in behalf of the pc
titioners and then j. E. Law, attorney
for the company, presented the following
petition. signed by Homer Bartlett, Mrs.
J. W. Gordon, Henry Sommerville, j.
J. Gusman and j. II. Moore. al of whom
had signed the other petition:
Some time since we signed petition
70 your honorable body, relative TO .
franchise grant to Homer B. Mckinley,
Tor the purpose Of constructing and OPP
eratiug q street car line and tracks on
Ioctiss street, between Sycamore and
Chestnut streets and, experimenting that
our position in this matter might be
misunderstood, We desire to say to the
council, by way of explanation, that it
Is not our purpose to object to the street
car line being built on Locust street, but
simply TO call the attention of the coun-
al to the fact that Locust street should
be paved, graded and put in good or
der. This will increase the available
width of the street, and should be done
whether the street car line Is construct
ed thereon or not. and if the street rail-
road is constructed and operated. "a con-
templated. on said Locust street. it will
increase the necessity of paving said
street.
Mr.. Law then called attention to the
fact that only six persons of the many
property owners along the route had pro-
tested against the granting of the fran
chise, and he did NOT think that was snf-
fcicnt 20 induce the council to refuse the
franchise.
AR. Moore then moved that the ordi-
nance be- put on its second reading and
passed. Col. Seely seconded the motion.
and after Mr.. Moore had spoken in Ia
vor of his motion. the ordinance was
adopted by unanimous vote.
The following ordinance then passed
its first reading. those voting agains. it
being Councilman McAndrew. Hurst.
Ernst and Moore:
'.Be 1t ordained by the common council
of the city of Clarksburg:
-':SSccfion l. That permission b. and IS
hereby given to Cunningham and Stone.
partners in trade. their successors and
assigns. 70 erect and maintain. build and
operate in. upon and under the public
grounds streets. alleys, ways. sidewalks.
landings and river fronts. Of the city Of
Ciarksburg. such poles. wires. cables,
pipes, sideways, ducts and appliances
necessary and appointment for the pur-
pose OF building. operating and maintain
ing lines of electric light and power
plant, and for the purpose of transacting
general electric lighting and power
business in said city.
'Snrh po.es. wires and appsr.enance-
shah be erected and maintained 30 as not
10 interfere with, or interrupt, the free
use Of said streets. alleys. sidewalks, pub