The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1905-12-14
Newark, Jersey CITY, Phila-
delphia, and Pittsburg
Are the Only Cities Giving
Unlimited Terms to Troll
ley Companies
CONGRESS RECEIVES DATA
SPECIAL coaMITTEE NAMED
LAST WINTER GIVES THE RE-
suit OF IT'S INVESTIGATION
INTO THE RELATIONS OF MU-
NICIPALITIEs AND STREET
RAILWAYS.


WASHINGTON. Dec. H. 1905
Some interesting facts relative to street
railway regulations have been presented
to Congress by the commissioners Of the
District Of Columbia in pursuance with
joint resolution passed last winter.
The cities where the commissioners in
vestigated the conditions were those hav-
ing population Of 100000 on more.
1t is significant that only four of the
large cities of the country are reported
to still adhere TO the policy Of perpetual
franchises. Those thus designated in the
report are jersey City, Newark, Philadel-
phia and Pitttsburg, OF Jersey City the
commission says that the question Of
franchises is ,npw under discussion.
Bostons franchises are granted during
good behavior on the part of the com
panies, and those granted by Congress
for Washington, while not definitely linn
tied, are subject to. amendment. altera-
ton or repeal by Congress at any time.
The franchise limits reported for the
other large cities Of the country are:
Baltimore-Twenty-two years; subject
to renewal on terms to be agreed upon
or purchased by the city At appraised
value at the end Of each twenty-five
year period.
Buffalo Sixty-six years.
Chicago Twenty years.
eineinnati-Twents-fve ysars; except
those granted under the notorious Rogers
act, which are for ffty years.
Cleve,and-From twenty to twenty
i've years.
Detroit-Thirty years.
Observation-Disclosures BY State law to
not more than thirty four years.
Louisyille-Twenty years.
Milwaukee-Th Thirty years.
New Orleans Different terms, but
| fifty years the usual limit.
| New York-Limited by city charter to
twenty-five years, with right of extern
sions in twenty-fveAyear periods.
San Francisco Twenty-Five years.
St. Louis is reported as limiting all
grants, but no limit IS specified in the re-
port.
Straight lye-celt fares are reported in
all cities except Detroit. where some re-
cent franchises require thrse-eent fares,
and Milwaukee where tickets sold SIX for
a quarter are accepted during certain
hours in the morning and at night for
working people. In Washington and In
lianapolis the companies sell six tickets
for twenty-five cents. or TWENTY-FIVE for
| 81. good at any time.
The Massachusetts, law requires that
the capital stock Of street railway. COM
panies shall not be less than $4,000 for
each mile, unless the road is wholly OUT
side Of any city. when the stock mus,
not be less than $500 per mile. All
stock must be fully paid in. at par, in
cash. The New York law requires that
the capital stock shall be $4,000 per
mile, except for Rarrow-saase railroads,
whose stock need not exceed $1,000 per
mile. There is no prov,sion about paid-
| in capital. sSsa
In Washington tlle capitsl stock is
limited, It being the uslial requirement
that the total issue Of stock and bonds
shall not exceed. ia the aggregate. the
amount necessary to nay the cost of
consrrss:on ard @anisment. In some
charters IL. commissioners FIX the
amo1rt. CT ,l:s capitalization.
Ph;lids;2,l.a and San Francisco re-
quire the trolley companies 10 pave and
keep in repair, from curb to- curb, all
-.
| streets in which Their. tracks are laid.
Chicago requires the companies to pave
and maintain sixteen feet in the centre
Of the street whore there il double
track. and eight feet where there is a
single track.
II Fa',imsrs ;as sfo:;eg e0tsaas Lies Fay
n;nc per coat. Of ths.r gross receipts 70
the city. 1ta'so pays taxes Dn its real
ana 3sr.oas; sse3esty and 4 Gar license.
uostoa railways pay 20 .sAe city seven
cisaths Of snc re; csst Of shsir gross re-
ceip.s, ws.le sae. cs1rpaay's Dividends
ere lsss .'.aa SIS per cesl.. arsi when the
divilane;s :~seh SIX per K srt the scit5
gets, eli the profts III excess Of that
amasnt, il asaitisa ao me sss ea-sishshs