The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-11-01
SIDE-TRACKS DEBATE
PENDING ORDNANCE HAS STIRRED
 CENTRAL CITY
Agent of the Memphis and Pensacola Threatens to Leave Selma on Route If Franchise is Granted.

The question of the Southern Railway
 laying side tracks up each side of Wa ter Street from the compress to Church Street was discussed at length yester- day evening before the ordinance com
 mittee of the City Council. A great deal of interest was manifested in the matter and a large number of citizens was present at the meeting and took part in the discussion. The meeting
 was presided over by Councilman R. D.
 Berry and after the ordinance relating
 to the laying of side tracks had been
 read the debate opened.
 James E. Miller, who is the head of
 the engineering corps of thet Memphis
 and Pensacola Railroad. was the first
 to address the committee. MT. Miller
 read a paper in which he stated that he
 wanted to bring his line to Selma and
 that to do so it would cost the company an additional $1,000,000 which 1t would
 not otherwise have to spend. But he stated that If the Southern Railway was
 allowed to put its side tracks on Water,
 Street 1t would very materially inter- fere with his line getting across the riv-
 CT. If the franchise was granted to
 lay the side tracks. he would recom-
 mend to his company that 1t not come
 through Selma. He spoke very forcibly
 on the subject and said, If you allow
 these side tracks, 1t will put your city
 on a side track forever"
 In reply to a question asked him bv
 Hon. A. l.. Mcleod. Mir Miller said that
 he was not connected with the Louis vile and Nashville. Southern or Illinois Central Roads.
 Hon. W. B. Craig who represented 3. H. Craig. and other property own CTS on Water Street, made strong ar gument favoring the granting of the franchise and the passing of the ordi- nance. saying that the tracks up Water Street. would benefit alike the property owners and the business men.
 Tn response to a question asked him | by Councilman Clay. Mir Miller stated most emphatically that it would do no good to spend any more money in Selma l if the Southern was granted this privi- lege.
 c. H. Peacock, who represents one of | the largest manufacturing enterprises | in the city. spoke at length on the aues- l ton. He said that the space between the tracks and the street car tracks | would be no more than alley ways and would practically do away with the wagon trade of the city. He was oppos- l ed to allowing any tracks up Water Street, but if the ordinance was passed 1 he wanted 1t so that all of the railroads now in the city and those which would | come in the future could use the tracks. 1 L. F. Jeffries. division counsel for the ! Southern, said that the Southern was willing to join in with the other roads in constructing these tracks.
 l Captain l.. M. Hooper made strong ] speech to the committee opposing the | laying of the tracks up Water Street He took the position that the street be- | longed to the public and should not be 1 given to the railroads.
 R. R. Kornegay strongly advocated l the passing of the ordinance.
 Hon, F. s. Starr spoke at length and | took the position that Colonel F. M. Ab- Ebett. of the Selma Street Railway Com l pasay, owned the franchise and that the l city had no right tb take 1t away from him, This brought up discussion be- I tween Mir Jeffries and Mr. Starr. Mr Jefrries asked If MT. Starr had not help | ed to prevent the Southern from cross | ing certain streets Mir. Starr replied | that he had after the Southern had re- fused to build over the street. When
 MT. Jeffries replied that he knew nothin about that, Mir. Starr told him that he was not then prepared to argue his | side of the question.
 | Superintendent Eagan of the Mobile division of the Southern then argued in favor of the ordinance. He said that the Southern did not want the franchise ! If the COunCli uIu nOl tHIuk IT was q good business proposition and denied | that the Southern was trying to get | Colonel Abbott In a law suit.
 | The committee did not meet this af- 1 ternoon. meeting will be held to- | morrow afternoon ct 5. o'clock, whom a | number of citizens will voice their 1 opinions. The committee will report | on the matter at the next meeting of | the Council. :-: ~: l Arrested for Forgery. ~. | w A. Greer, a white man, was ar | rested by the police authorities last l night on the charge of forgery. An 1 additional warrant charging him with attempting to entice labor away also
 made out against him. Greer came to | Selma from Georgia and since his ar | rivaI hera 1t is alleged has heen trying