The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-05-02
ELECTRIC ROAD
ALMOST CERTAIN
LIVELY RUM0RS WILL NOT DOWN
Councilman Thompson in Corr
responience With Eastern Capt.
talists Who Mean Business.

Besides Many of the unsubstanti-
ated rumors, connecting local and
eastern capitalists with an intention
to girdle the county and valley with
urban and interurban electric rail-
road lines, comes d genuine and sub
stantial statement OF fact from Coun-
Gilman Thompson which seems to
bear the earmarks of realty.
I'll is a fact" said Mr.. Thompson,
Monday afternoon, that / have
been asked by responsible people in
the east for detailed information
concerning the conditions here
abouts, with special reference to
their intentions of building series
OF roads in and about this county.
II ana not at liberty just at pres
ent TO tell who the parties are, but
some of them are well known to peo-
pie OF this community. And let me
say this, too, that these people have
the money TO pue into an investment
Of this Kind. TAey want to know
what Kind of a deal the city viii give
tAem and If the people will be on
the square with them. | am reason
ably assured tnat there will never
be any cause for complaint.
Councilman Thompson first went
10 the office of the city attorney and
asked what would be expected of a
company applying for an electro
road franchise The city attorney,
who has recently had occasion to
look into this same matter. and to
whom all applications for a fran
chise must be submitted before they
are voted upon by the council, is
said to have stated the terms TO Mr..
Thompson.
AS nearly as they can be as
certained, the city attorney will de-
mand that substantial check, GER
tilted, be deposited with the city
treasurer to bind the bargain; re-
quire the promoters to begin actual
construction within definite but
reasonable length Of time: completa
portion of the line, ready for opera
ton, within a definite but reasonable
length OF time; and to require that
the company SHAH only receive a
franchise that viii ensure to the city
fair income from the gross re-
eeipts of the company. giving it fair
chance to get on its feet, say q
period of ten years.
The clients of Mr. Thompson APP
piled specifically for information
asking what the amount of territory
was that could be easily tapped
what would have to be done in the
way of grading; what lines were al
ready built that would furnish any
competition: and also requesting
copy OF any other application for
similar franchises that had ever been
submitted, the reason why they we're
refused and the nature of the de-
mands they made.
The applicants were furnished
with q copy of the Rose franchise,
which was refused by the city coun-
ell at the request of Mr.. Rose, him
self, who failed to make arrange
ments with the Northern Pacific, re-
garding the carrying of freight.
Some of the names of the parties
who are interested in the matter
were made known to The Herald re-
porter in confidence, and their prom
inence in the east guarantees that if
the work is undertaken, it will be
prosecuted with vigor that will as
sure the people of this city of cleo
trio railroad transportation within a
very few months.
The frequency with which rumors
have been popping up of late, rela-
tive to street railroad companies,