The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-01-27
FRANCHISES Up
IN CITY COUNCIL
Few PrOtestants Appear and
Oppose the Passage of the
Ordinances.
NUMBER WISH TO SELL
PROPERTY TO COMPANY

Work OF Amending Franchises
Is. Taken Up in EXecu-
tive Session.
The consideration OF the franchises
asked for by the Western Pacific and
Rio Grande Western Railway companies
was resumed at special meeting OF the
City Council Thursday evening
Only One Absentee
All members OF the Council were pres
cnt except Ferry, and the room was
nlled with spectators. Among these were
a number of persons who are protesting
against the granting of the franchises.
and representatives of the railroads ask
Ing the granting of the privileges
When the meeting had been called to
ordinances granting the proposed fran
chiSes, and then the protests against tho
granting were presented. These petitions
were nve in number, but were not
numerouSly signed
Want to Sell Property.
The largest petition represented the
protests OF about twcnty-four families
residing upon the south side OF South
Temple street, between Sixth and Ninth
West. The Western Pacific has pur-
chased an average OF lGO feet In width
through these three blocks to the south
ell, through their attorney. Culbert l..
Olson, TO compel the company either To
buy their property or give n bond 10
make good any damages suffered by the
property owners through the building or
the road
Olson Presents Protest.
Mr. Olson, in presenting the protest to
the Council. said that the San Pedro.
Los Angeles & Salt Lake road had
tracks on South Temple, north of the
the Western Pacific would have tracks
on the south. Mr. Olson insisted that
this would cause property values to de-
prcciate, and that the company should
bond for damages, so that the property
owners could more easily sue the com
pany. Mr.. Olson dIsclaimcd any intcn-
tion Of impeding tho building OF the road.
and said IL would mean much to the city.
The property, he added could be bought
for $4,000 to $40 coo.
e. Il. Rich, Jr,. and J. H. Haslam wero
then heard briefly. in opposition TO tho
franchises. and Waldemar Van Cott took
tho floor as the representative OF the
railroad companies.
Van Cott Is Brief.
Mr. Van Colts remarks were brief. but
to the point He first pointed out that
in most cities the railroads have egress
scheme however, was TO so through a
block. and this had been adopted by the
Western Pacific which had bought an
average OF leo feet in width through tho
three blocks In question at cost OF sZS5,-
COO This had been paid by the com
pany. Mr.. Von Cott said while other
roads had been allowed to operate along
streets gratis
Violation of Statute.
AS to the acquisition of the property of
q
statutes OF the State prevented a railroad
from condemning more than
nine rods In width and that as the COM
pany had bought moro than nine rods In
width, 1t would not be allowed TO con-
denim the property OF the protestants
Here is tho proposition Mr. Van Cott |
continued MI Olson says we should
The owners might have ono price and
we might have another Then nil that
would be left would be condemnation pro-
ceedings. and we have no right to con-
denim under the law
Mr.. Wells here interposed a question as !
to whether or not tho company could
the property II i didn't need It.
compel them 10 need IT,"
Mirth Is Injected.
But what Will we do with the proper |
" which we have already bought2' Mr.. |
Van Cott asked
you can do anything you please with |
IT, Mr.. Olson replied, and everybody
laughed.
At this time Fcrnstrom moved that the |
Council go into executive session to con- |
slider the franchises section by section, |
the matter go over until next Monday ev-
enlng. Holidays motion was lost and |
Fernstrom's prevailed
Query by HOLIDAY.
In the meantime however. Holiday
asked Mr.. Van Cott IL II was the Inten-
uon OF the companies to build high
board fence. or other fences. on the west
side of the new depot at Third South and
Fourth West streets,
Mr.. Van Cott replied that fences were
n little out OF his line but he didn't be-
ievc the companies would cXpend large
sums OF money for q site upon which to
erect S2000 600 passenger station and then
fence 1T in 80 people couldn't get to 1t.
Spectacular Session.
The executive session was somewhat
spectacular, The protestants were invit-
ID TO take part and they accepted the IN
vtation with ecl0t and alacrity So did
the proponents OF the franchises Often
from SIX TO twelve people We're attempt
was similar to the attempt OF two trains
going In opposite directions trying to pass
each other on the same track
The Western Pacific franchise was the
1rst to be taken up in tho executive ses-
sion and 1t was passed virtually as orig
nally submitted, the amendments being
IF minor Importance.
The Rio Grandc Western franchise.
however. was amended In several partic-
llars- On motion OF Fernstrom il was
provided that. in the event the shops were
-emovcd from Salt Lake. the company
should surrender back to the city the
streets vacated for 1t from Second to
Ninth South on Fifth and Sixth West.
Protest Is Ignored.
George Stewart protested against any
additional tracks on Sixth West street
'aying that the trains now ran at a high
ate OF speed, which stopped clocks along
he line, but mis- protest was ignored
Carter introduced an amendment pro-
,iding that the company should gravel
he east side OF Fifth South street from
second to Ninth South street, and the
amendment was adopted
An arbitration clause covering Injuries
o property. was inserted on motion of
Black and the Rio Grande Western was |
,llowed to use the Short Line tracks on
Fourth West between North Temple and
Fifth North, II the right could be ac-
luired by lease or otherwise.
Provision for Viaduct.
1t was also provided that the Rio
5rande Western should construct n vim
iuct or subway, at the new station 9th
+ minor amendments also were agreed