The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1905-11-02
Considerable Interest Evinced.

The hearing of the opinions of the
citizens on the question of granting tho
outhern Railway the right to lay
tracks down each side of Water Street
from the compress to Church Street. and
which is being heard before the COM
mittee on ordinances of the City Coun-
ell, is causing a great deal of interest A
large number Of citizens were at the
session of tho committee Tuesday night
and spoke freely their views.
Again this afternoon when the COM
mittee met at o'clock. there were pres
ent large number OF citizens.
Councilman Berry of the Committee
on Ordinances, called the second ses-
sion OF that committee to order this
afternoon at s o'clock. 1t was an
nounced that the session would last
two hours. The question of the South
1ern Railway laying tracks up each side
of Water Street was thoroughly dis
cussed. Councilman Berry suggested
that those favoring the city granting
the franchise be heard first, but L. E.
Jeffries, division counsel for the South
ern Railway. opposed this. suggesting
that w. B. Craig and A. L. Mcleod,
who favored IL, should open, and that
Hon. H. s. d. Mallory and J. r. Satter-
field, who opposed 1t. should then state
their sides, and that he close the argu-
ment. This was agreed to.
w. B. Craig, representing property
owners on Water Street, who favored
the sidetracks, said that he had sew
eral witnesses to examine with consent
of the chairman. The first witness was
Fl. H. Stewart. who testified that he
thought the tracks would be of great
benefit to the city and county. He
was cross-examined by A. D. Pitts and
stated he thought they would be
great advantage to others than whole
sale grocers. He was then questioned
by H. s. d. Mallory. Mr.. Stewart said
that he was OF the opinion that bust
ness had increased greatly with the
railroad track in the alley behind Wa
ter Street. He would not object to
noise or smoke. Further questions
were then asked him by Colonel
Quarles, against the tracks, and Mr..
Jeffries for the Southern Railway.
Mr.. Stewart stated that he thought
that tracks would save the country
people about $4,000 on drayage on
cotton, basing receipts on those of last
year.
In reply to questions by G. H. Pea
cock. he stated that though he had
very little use for Water Street except
for business uses, II should not be used
as driveway.
M. LeYa then took the stand and was
he favored the tracks and was willing
to make sacrifices for them as the
Southern Railway spent more money
here than any other institution.
In reply to Councilmay Clay, he said
that he thought the tracks would bepe-
fit property holders.
Hon. A. L. Mcleod addressed the
committee in favor of the tracks and
read three letters from business men
in Norfolk, Va, testifying to advant-
ages that side tracks afforded mer-
chants. He then addressed the COM
mittee. While he was in favor OF the
tracks, he thought the ordinance should
be changed: that the franchise should
not be given away. but should be sold
for what it was worth. He thought
that II Colonel Abbott and associates
had exclusive franchises over Water
or any other streets. that 1t was time
to find 1t out He did not believe in
perpetual franchises He said the Mil
Ter proposition submitted at previous
meeting had promised the city nothing
and represented nothing. In building
the tracks. the Southern Railway would
have to deal with property owners.
A. N. Hall. a warehouseman, thought
that the tracks would prove a great
advantage to business interests on Wa
ter Street and would enhance the value
of property.
Replying, Colonel Quarles said the