The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-05-19
FIVE CENT FARE DOUBTFUL
ALDERMANIo COMMITTEE CON-
 FER WITH TROLLEY OFFICIALS

FER WITH TROLLEY OEE1CIAL Lo Concerning Lowering Rate to Light
 house Point-wouId Cost Trolley
 Road at Least sI5O,OOO to Make Suit
 able Preparations-Chirman Ricketts
 Asks fer Five Cent Fare to Fort Hale
 Park.
 From present indications there is very little doubt that the trolley road company will refuse to grant the five cent fare to Lighthouse Point, as the conference between the special commit tee of the board of aldermen and the president of the road yesterday after noon tended to show.
 The aldermanic committee, of which Alderman-at-Large Ricketts is chair man, met President Hemingway in his office at o'clock yesterday afternoon for the purpose of holding a conference in relation to the matter. The entire situation was talked over and late in the afternoon the session adjourned.
 The road officials, on being asked the result of the hearing, referred the in quirers to Chairman Ricketts. Chair man Rieketts stated last evening that the trolley officials had stated that they could not possibly afford to have five cent rate of fare to the Point, inasmuch as to get the road in a suitable condi- ton to do so it would cost the company at least $150,0O0. In addition to this, the heavy travelling over the line would only, at the most, last four months in the year and the entire line would have to be kept in perfect condition all the year round.
 Alderman Ricketts then stated that he asked President Hemingway if this was final decision on the part of the road, and the president stated that he could give no final decision until he had conferred with the directors, which he would do in the near future.
 Chairman Ricketts next asked Presi- dent Hemingway if the trolley compa- ny would grant tiye-cent fare to Fort Hale park, as he considered it the best ] possible place where the city could es- tablish a public park and playgrounds for the children. In reply to this Pres ident Hemingway also stated that he could give no reply until he had con- ferred with the board of directors. The fare to Fort Hale park is now i ten cents, although the distance from where the second fare is taken is but a short distance to Fort Hale park.
 Chairman Ricketts stated last even l ing that it was ridiculous for the city tc think of buying the Lighthouse Point property at the price which is asked for it, when it has a much finer place for a public park, Fort Hale park. Said the speaker: "The board of finance gave $6O0 this spring to be used in repairing the sea wall of the park, and hardly think that even small percentage of 1 the people in this city have ever been l in the park or know anything about it. It seems to me that this is the place where the city should give the public a chance to enjoy themselves. The city owns it now and it is nearer the city proper than the Lighthouse Point prop erty."
 The committee will make it's report to the board of aldermen at the next meeting of that body.
 Alderman Morse, of the Fifteenth ward, presented a petition few weeks ago in which he asked that the city de- lmand that the company grant a five cent fare to the Point. A hearing was subsequently held on the matter, and General Manager J. K. Punderford stated to the committee that he thought l the company might make counter proposition. His suggestion was that if the city would permit it to build a double track road down Townsend ave- nue the company might then be able to