The Columbus weekly dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 1902-1905, 1904-07-28
Street Railways Discussed.

biOuS 1IOl1 IOlI HdutCS aColI lu1 "
secure franchises for street rail
ways IN the city of Columbus,
and although two of the mem
bers. Messrs. B. a. Weaver and
J. H. Stevens were absent. those
present took up the question and
discussed it thoroughly.
Three propositions were re-
ceived, the fourth having been
withdrawn before the meeting.
The first was from Frederick
Brown g. Co., Ltd, of New Or
leans. La, and asked for a fran
chise to be granted for fifty
years and exempt from taxation
for the term of ten years. The
proposition was full in the
statement Of what would be ex-
pected of the incorporated COM
pany. They agreed to begin
work and have the line pleted
within two hundred and ten days
from the date of the granting Of
franchise, and as an evil
dence of good faith they agreed
to put up any bonus that the
Council might see fit to request.
They were TO be allowed to man
ufacture and sell electricity for
lighting purposes, and the speed.
fare TO be charged and other de-
tails of the working Of the ears
were entered into at some
length.
The second proposition was
made by H. S. RodenhOff and as
sociates, and in some respects
proved more desirable than the
proposition preceding it. They
asked for a fifty year franchise,
but did not make it a specifca
ton to be exempt from taxation,
although as Mr.. R0denhoff
stated. his company would not
refuse such terms if the Council
desired TO allow them this
concession. The incorporators
agreed to begin work within six
months after the granting Of the
franchise and were to have the
road completed within two years.
They were also to be allowed to
use any aad all streets prac-
ticable for car lines. always work
ing in harmony with the Street
Committee
The third and last proposition
was presented by Col. T. J.
O'Neill, F. NJ. Abbott and G.
D. Heard. Col. O'Neill was
present in person and asked that
he be allowed to read his
proposition to the Council In
beginning Col. ONeill stated that
the proposition made some days
ago by he and his associates had
been Withdrawn, owing to the
fact that it had been written in /
haste and contained many imper-
fections, and he asked the Coun-
Gil to allow him 10 withdraw the
first paper and present new
one. framed after grants that had
come 10 his notice. Virtually
the proposition presented was of
the same tenor as those received
earlier in the evening. A fran
chise for a term of forty nine
years was asked for and exemp-
ton from taxation for a period of
ten years. The company were
to begin construction of the road
on the 25th day of December,
1904, and agreed to have three
miles of track laid by the same
date of the following year. De
tails as to construction, mode of
operating. care of passengers.
regulation of fares were entered
into.
Capt. E. T. Sykes, attorney for
the city, had been asked to be
present and give his opinion as
to the legality of the Council al
lowing exclusive franchises and
exempting corporations from tax
alton. Capt. Sykes was called
upon 10 give his opinion and
spoke for some time on the diff
ferent phases of the matter,
citing the code. charter of Col
umbus, and cases similar to those
under discussion to prove lis
points. Capt. Sykes begun by
stating that the Council had no
right to allow an exclusive fran
chise to any street railway com