The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-12-18
City Railway Question to
Wednesday Night.
ARE CLOSE TO ACTION
Stakeholder helms Says Willing to
Name Limit of Seven Miles OF Road,
And Will Operate to Durham
Or Forfeit Fran
chise. @y s e
chise. 18e:s &

proposed new electric road in Raj
cigh and from Raleigh to Durham
are practically agreed upon.
This was accomplished last night
after the meeting of the Board of
Aldermen. which postponed action
till next Wednesday night. Il meeting
of the parties interested being held
with the Aldermanic Committee.
At the meeting terms were agreed
upon which We're later declared to be
satisfactory by Mr.. w. j. helms. of
Newport News. an active member Of
the new company. Said he just be-
fore leaving at 1880 this morning:
Yes, the terms are agreed uDon
ana IL the Board of Aldermen pass
the franchise as amended we will
have men at work in Raleigh In
january on the road. We agree TO
begin within two years and to COM
piete the work in five years; to have
as much mileage in the city as the
present railway company, this being
ABOUT 1-2 miles, and to add to this
1-2 miles in Raleigh township, the
franchise to be void unless we Oper-
ate cars between Raleigh and Dur
nam"
This franchise ordinance goes be-
fore the Board of Aldermen on We'd
nesday night and it is then that the
matter will be settled either by an
ordinance mutually agreeable between
the city and the Raleigh and Durham
Passenger and Power Company, or by
refusal TO pass this.
The Aldernanic Meeting.
AT eight o'clock last night the
meeting of the Board of Aldermen
was called to order.
Alderman Separk, chairman of the
Committee on the proposed franchise
called on City Attorney Watson to
state the result of the committee
Mr.. Watson said that the committee
was not ready to report, but asked
further time to prepare the fran
chise.
motion was made to give the
committee until the regular meeting
in January. This was carried.
A motion was made to adjourn and
was about to be put.
Just here Messrs. Thomas S. Fuller, |
of Raleigh; Jones Fuller. of Durham,
and w. j. helms, of Newport News, |
stockholders in the new, company,
entered the hall
Mr.. Thomas S. Fuller asked a halt.
Being told what had been done he
requested the Board to reconsider it's
action, listen to remarks from gen
tlemen who had come from n dis
best.
The postponement of the commit
tee report was recOnSidered, and then
Mr.. w. j. Nelmss president of the
Hampton Roads Electric Road, was
introduced.
Mr.. helms made a vigorous and
business talk. He said the matter
was important, that for two or three
weeks the committee had discussed 1t.
He understood the people of Raj
eigh were anxious and clamoring for
an electric road to Durham. and a
better system In the city. He had
investigated conditions here and his
company was ready to build, and 10
give TO the city road that would,
exceed its most sanguine expectations.
AS to the delay he saw no reason
for it, as the company had acquieSced
in the amendments suggested to the
franchise and now it was simply
question as TO whether Raleigh de-
sired the new company or not.
The matter. he declared, was not
of sufficient magnitude for his conf
many TO get into a hot contest. In
the proposed road connecting Burling-
ton Graham and Haw River the
company had asked $4,000 to cover
interest on bonds for two years and
at once $4,000 had been subscribed.
Here not n cent was asked, ana mere
Increased values of property, III
creased property for taxation in
thousands of dollars would be the
result, homes and factories being
elected
There is no one here" he said,
"but that would like an hour sched-
ule from here to Durham, and already
one piece of property on a street the
road is eexpcted to traverse has gone
from $4,000 up to $4,000. The
people / represent feel that If you
want the road they are ready and
a it.o'
and if you do not want IL we ask YOU
10 say SO and let us Know. as there
are other places asking for capital.
In the road in the city l see no profit,
but with a road from Raleigh to
Durham | believe there will be sue
cess. If you desire us. if you well
come us, we will come. If not ne
90 sonewhc 2 else. We are not DO
handing anything, but we Want 70
know what you are g3'lg to do,
trust YOUR committee viii repol- to-
y ght and say yes or no. would
rather YOU would say no than post
pone till in January. Unless you
can do so heartily it is best for us to
shake hands and part friends.
Alderman Separk, in somewhat
shaky question marks, then nfed lot
Of questions at Mr.. helms, and in
answering these Mr. Nelms said that
i'm twelve months he hoped TO nave
the city pretty we'll covered unless
unexpected trouble came that capl-
tai was jealous and took fright at
small things, that Mess he got the
right of way to build to Durham the
road would not be built in Raleigh
Here Mr.. Jones Fuller said that
Durham county had given the right
of way, that Durham city's commit
tee were ready with a favorable re-
port and that Wake County Commits
sioners would act on Monday
Mr. Nelms further explained that
if seven miles of road in and around
Raleigh were not constructed the
franchise would be void and again
that unless the road from Raleigh to
Durham was not built none would
be- In response to questions from
Alderman Johnson he said that with