The Palatka news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1905-03-24

centered in the report and recon.
mendations OF the special committee
appointed at a previous meeting tC
confer with Mr.. Craig, Cat his urgent
solicitation regarding the suit which
has been commenced to annul his
street car franchise. The report was
as follows:
Palatka. Fla, March Is, 1905.
To the Hon. City Council,
Palatka, Fla,
Gentlemen:-
Your committee to whom was re-
ferred the matter of contention be-
tween the city and the Palatka u
Heights Street Railway Company
beg to submit the following report:
Mr. Craig, the president of the road,
met the committee and made it the
following propositions:
That if the City Council would
grant him franchise through the
city, along Lemon street and such
other streets as may be necessary to
construct and operate line of street
railway from the St Johns River on
Lemon Street to Mud Lake at Peniel,
he would construct and have in ope-
ration by next December, such pro-
posed line of railway and would ope-
rate line of motor cars and discon-
tinue the mule car line. He further
stated that he would give good and
sufficient bond in the sum of 100000,
to guarantee the carrying out of the
conditions of his franchise, having
special reference to that portion of
same that relates to the paving. lie
also stated that the company might
be bound to install an electric street
railway system when the combined
population of Palatka and Palatka
Heights should reach 10000 inhabi-
tants. He also stated that he would
take up the present street railway
wherever the City Council deemed
it necessary to have it removed for
the installation of the sewerage svs-
tenn, at his own expense. We wish
to add, however, that Mr.. Craig de-
sires the privilege of operating the
mule car line until the motor car
line shall have been constructed.
AS the proposition of the Palatka
u Heights Street R'y Co., provides
for substantially new line and for
the discontinuance of the old lines
and the mule car line, except where
said company might desire to use a
portion of said line, which might be
on the line of the proposed motor car
line, your committee cannot see any
good reason why the city should not
proceed with its suit to annul the
present franchise in order to avoid Il
humber of complications that might
arise in an effort to fix this matter
by agreement, as the Council can, at
any time, pass an ordinance giving
the Palatka d Heights Street Rall-
way Company Il franchise for the
proposed motor Car line. There
would be only this difference in the
substantial effect of the two methods,
viz: by proceeding with the suit and
annuliing the franchise, the Palatka
& Heights Street Railway Co., would
not be permitted to operate its mule
car line until the motor car line was
installed, but same would have to be
disconued when SO ~adjudged by the
Court
Your committee recommends care
full consideration of the proposition
of the PaIatka Il Heights Street Rail-
way Co., with reference to the install
lation of the motor car line, and
would suggest that in the event said
company applied for franchise, io'
this purpose from the city, that tins
company be granted franchise with
proper restrictions and provisions.
We respectfully call your attention
to the further fact that Mr.. Craig
states positively that he would aban-
don the present road in preference to
doing all the paving that was requir-
ed under the previous franchises
granted said company by the city,
and he also states that this present
street railway has not been a paying
investment, but that it actually is a
burden to the company to operate 1t
and the company is required to put
up several hundred dollars each year
in addition TO the receipts of the COM
pany Tor its operation. Under these
circumstances, we cannot see how
the cancellation of the franchise can
be injurious to the company, as we
cannot see why it should be desired
by anyone to operate mule car line
at a continual loss.
We see no good reason for confus-
ing the matter of annulling the fran
chise of the mule car line with the
proposition to build u motor car line,
but your committee would be glad to
see the council encourage the install
lation and operation of the motor car
line when such matter comes prop
erly before the council.
Respectfully submitted,
j. A. SHELLEY,
S. j. HII.BURN,
Committee.
At the conclusion of its reading a
motion to receive the report was
made and passed. There was no sec
ond to a motion to adopt the report.
This allows the former action of the
council to stand; that is to say, the
suit to annul the franchise will pro-
ceed.
When Mr.. Craig was seen on We'd
nesday he stated that he wouldn't
have much to say before next week.
He said he would take up the tracks
as they were needed for the sewer
and relay them as fast as the sewer
was completed. IAN our other
troubles" he added "will come out
in the wash"
IT NEVER DIsAPPoINTs.