The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1904-09-29
DO wE WANT A
STREET RAILWAY

DO NE WANT a
STREET RAILWAY
The franchise granted to the Okla
homa Traction company to build
street railway n Guthrie expires to
night. While technically the franchise
was granted 10 the corporation, the
public has been led TO look AT il as an
Ollahc,ra City proposition fostercd hy
John w. sbartel and A. II. Classen. A
forfeit cf s5.0oc was deposited with
the city treasurer for the faithful per
formance Of the work and that the
street railway should be m operation,
Sept 20 1904 shartei and Slassen
have signally failed in carrying out
their Undertaking. We DO not know
why they have failed, perhips none Of
us know
One course Is plainly open to the
counc.l--to declare the franchise for
feited and cover the money now in the
treaMrer's hands into the proper fund
as city property Thus the incident
might be closed DO the pecile want
that done7
The Leader believes this money be
longs TO the city and its people. The
council stands rs the representative
Of the people From this standpoint
we wish to make few remarks.
Il ls q street railway we want. The
money IS safely in the treasurer's
hands aid can not get away. How
can we best accomplish the desire
result. Mr.. shartel has answered
number of pertinent questions pro
pounded by the Leader and answered
then In a manly way. He says they
dc rot desire an extension OF their
franchise at this time That financial
condi ions throughout the country
have prevented his securing the money
to build. That money is getting easier
in The east and prospects are brighter
That he now has the subject up with
parties who are able 40 complete the
work and that 4 is being favorahly
considered. He does not care "a make
the entire situation public. but asks
the council and the Guthrie club TO
each appoint a committee TO act jointly
to which committee he win make fun
Enclosures OF inside present conditions
and future prospects II these cou-
mittees report favorably he will ask.
not an extension OF his franchise at
.his time. hut simply that the matter
may remain in allegiance. for few
days or such time as the committees
may recommend If during that time
he succeeds then an extension may be
asked later basel OF such showing as
may be uade at the time In the
meantime he Offers to assign ihis iran.
chise to any responsible parry who
will take IL and build the road.
We worla commend this proposition /
10 tho serious consideration of every
member OF the council Guthrie has I
had trouble enough for one year. We
have recovered wonderfully from the
largest bank failure In the territory
A million dollars tied up has only par
TALLY re,a-del our prosperity After
getting rid OF negro offic.olism our ia
lure will be wha' We made It. We
do not want Mr. Sharters money. in
kind, II by our united efc., we can !
spend II for the purposes intended,
Once covered into soEc sund in the
city treasury its identity is losi. II IS
city money which under the terms Of
the Organic Ac, and our law can not
be used by he city 70 aiG N construct.
ing i railway. As long as II remains
M as e forfeit only il may be used in
any. paLner where the parties agree.
TO be finally taken over oy the eityf
wien all other Efforts have failed To
build a street railway will require the