The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1904-02-19

During the past two months the COM
Inittee on legislation of the Canton
Beard of Trade, in conjunction with
boards of trade and chambers of COM
merce from other cities, have been in
vestigating the best method of secur-
ling the passage of law so as to en-
Sable interurban railroads to enter
municipalities. The past few years
have demonstrated that every electric
railroad having a foothold in any mu-
nicipality of the state, and who secur-
ed their franchises for nothing have
been successful in preventing roads
from entering municipalities unless
they accepted the terms of existing
roads.
At the last meeting of the board,
the committee on legislation reported
and resolution was unanimously
adcpted asking the members of the leg
Iislature from Stark county to support
such a measure.
The plan outlined is set out In the
following suggestion to the legisla-
Iture:
A BILL.
Authorizing councils of municipali-
ties to grant franchises to inter-urban
railroads. using electric or any other
motive power except steam, for the pur-
pose of securing terminals in NUM-
cipalities.
Be it enacted by the general assem-
lbly of the state of Ohio.
Section 1. The council Of any mu-
nicipality shall grant franchise for
the building of any inter urban rail-
road, having. constructing or building
ten miles or more of track outside of
said municipality to any company or
companies using electric or other mo-
tive power save steam, for the purpose
of securing to said company or COM
lpanies, terminals in said municipal
lity, to build and construct additional
track and to operate cars thereon, on
any street or streets or parts OF streets
lof said municipality, after having OBJ
itained the consents of the owners of a
uoajority of the foot frontage on said
street or streets or parts OF streets
which are now occupied by any single
mack of any electric street railway on
lsnid streets of sufficient width to ad-
NIT two tracks, and the company to
which said franchise is granted shall
have power to move the track on said
street or streets or parts of streets,
when such franchise is granted, to the
side of said street or streets or parts
of streets, so that the strip known as
Devil Strip" between the two tracks
shall be In the center Of said street
or streets.
Sec. 2. That the expense of remoy-
ing the existing track of any such
road to the side of said street or
streets or parts Of streets, shall be
paid by the company to which fran
elise is granted for the additional
track on said street OF streets or parts
OF streets.
Sec. 3. All acts and parts of acts in
conflict or inconsistent with this act
are hereby repealed.
Sec. 4. This act shall take effect and
be in force from and after It's passage.
The following reasons why the legis-
lature of Ohio should pass an act to
enable interurban railroads to secure
terminals in municipalities, are set
forth by the committee:
1st. Interurban railroads are doing
more to develop the country and i'm
proving our cities and towns than
any other one thing. They give the
public rapid transit at small cost, in
crease the value Of all farm lands, real
estate and increase the price of the
products which the people have to sell.
End. Such an act Is needed by every
municipality in the state, as all ex-
listing street railroads have been hold
Ing UP every interurban railroad,
squeezing them by every possible meth
cd and manner and preventing them
from entering municipalities, unless
they can bleed them for large sum
FOR the right to enter municipalities.
Every city In the state has suffered on
this account.
3rd. Millions Of dollars OF capital
which would have been invested In in
terurban railroads In this state, have
been kept out simply on account OF
the action Of existing railroads. 1t Is
well known fact that capital will not
Invest In iDterurban railroads, unless
at least fair terminals In municipal.
lilies can be secured.
] 4th The plan suggested would put
an end to the hold up and extortion
OF the present railroads in municipal
tiles. 1t would not impair single
right, single franchise, or cause any
damage to any railroad now In exis.
tence.
5th. BY the passage of an act as
suggested, II any new road desires to
enter a municipality on the tracks OF
existing railroads, with such an ACT
on the statute books. 1t would enable
new roads to secure terms from exist.
ing railroads which would be just and
reasonable.
9Th. The conditions now existing
In the cities Of the state ~ above men.
AA H..