Amador ledger., 1904-05-06
The Railroad Franchise.

The lone and Eastern Railroad Com
pany filed a certified copy of its articles
OF incorporation with the county clerk
the latter part of last week. This
was a necessary preliminary step to ap-
plying for franchise for the right to
traverse the highways of Amador
county. On Monday the company
through W. j. McGee, the attorney,
presented a petition for the franchise.
While the supervisors manifested a
disposition to help along the railroad
movement, they at the same time seem
ed to be careful to protect the interests
OF the public in other respects. The
language of the proposed franchise was
considered too broad and sweeping.
1t asked the right not only to cross but
to travel over and alongside the streets
and public highways. According to
this view some interpreted it to mean
that the company would have the right
to use the lone roadbed for any dis
tance it might see fit, and also to
occupy the streets of town. A. Cami-
netti and W. F. Detert addressed the
board, both expressing themselves
favorable to any railroad company
that meant business. A franchise had
been obtained some twelve years ago,
but nothing came of it, except that il
was attempted to be used for speculative
purposes. To surrender the roads and
streets to railroad corporation was
not advisable. The company should
define the route they wished to travel
before applying for a franchise. II
was urged that the board should not
act hastily in this matter; that it
might be laid over until next meeting.
This was opposed. There was no
reason to delay the order authorizing
the publication of the application for
franchise. The company was willing
that any Objectionable terms such as
passing over and along the highways
should be stricken out.
The board adjourned until Tuesday
morning to allow the petition to be
amended, and committee of confer
ence was appointed to get the matter
in shape to be acted upon.
When the board met the following
morning, a protracted discussion en-
sued between the attorneys, W. J. Nc
Gee and A. Caminetti and the district
attorney, as to what the resolution to
be passed by the board authorizing the
publication of the notice for bids should
contain. The attorney for the petit
tioners contended that it was not nec-
essary that the resolution should em-
brace the conditions set forth in the
ordinance, while the opposing counsel
argued that it should refer to them, il
not set them forth in full.
Finally, after the proposed ordinance
was amended in several material re-
spects, the matter was favorably acted
upon by the board.
The terms of the ordinance require
the parties securing the franchise to
commence building the road within
three months after the franchise is
granted, and to complete at least five
miles within one year. Permission. is
given to cross highways or streets. but
not to follow or run alongside OF the
same. The notice will be published in
the Stockton Mail, and the franchise
will be sold to the highest bidder on
the 9Th of June.
The application of the lone and
Eastern railroad is for an electric pole
line and a railroad. 1t does not specify
an electric railroad exclusively; neither
does it say whether it is to be narrow
gauge or broad gauge line. So that
under the franchise either a steam or
electric narrow gauge or broad gauge
line might be constructed. The fran
chise must be awarded to the highest
bidder therefor. =:
We understand that surveyors are
out surveying route from lone along
Sutter creek to the town of Sutter
Creek. 1t is claimed that experts have
declared that route to be the most
practical. Several routes, however,
will be considered, and the line finally
determined after careful consideration
of all interests involved.