Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-27


responsible" the city council yester-
day granted a franchise for a steam
railroad that is believed to be the
southern terminal of the Western Pa
cific, Gould's great transcontinental
railroad.
The franchise is for a railroad line
to run through the bed of the Los An
geles river from the southern boundary
of the city to Also street, distance
of about three miles.
The franchise is ostensibly granted to
e. w. Gilmore, member of the street
contracting firm of Fairchild-Gllnore-
Wilton. Mr.. Gilmores name appears
as the grantee on all the official papers,
but he readily admits that he mas no
use for a steam railroad for the pur-
pose. of carrying freight, passengers
United States mail and baggage as
the terms of the franchise provide
Assistant City Attorney Goudge is
of the opinion that Mr.. Gilmore is the
real grantee and that he Is acting LOT
no other person.
Believe Gould Interested
Mr.. Goudge is persistent in his state
ment that the proposed rallroau Is put
a scheme of Fairchild. Gilmore & VIII
ton to secure entire control of the
gravel in the Los Angeles river bed
which by building this railroad these
contractors can effect He asserted
Yesterday that these same contractors
had made a similar effort about SIX
months ago, but that their plans had
been thwarted.
Members of the council claim to know
in
further than Mr.. Gilmore is the gran
tee named in the documents, but most
of them entertain the belief that elther
Gould or Hartman is at the bottom or
the scheme.
II is stated that either Hartman Sc
cured the franchise in an effort TO
keep Gould out of Los Angeles, or that
this road will be the southern terminal
of the Western Pacific.
Mr., Gilmore Is Mysterious
Mr.. Gilmore. who is probably the
only person in Los Angeles who knows
the ultimate destinies of the franchlse
which the council granted him yester-
day. or at least which the council ana
Mr.. Gilmore believe was granted MN.
refuses to discuss the new rallroad
further than to say emphatically that
IL is not for the purpose of hauling
gravel. He refused to confirm the
ruonor that the Gould interests are
behind the movement, but neither did
he deny 1t. BY hints he allowed the
impression to be conveyed that west
ern Pacific trains would probably run
over the new line.
While the council believed 1t granted
Mr.. Gilmore the franchise he asked yes
terday afternoon, the grantee would,
however. probably find himself involved
in serious legal difficulties should he
attempt to build his road on yester-
DAVIS action of the council
thinks He Sees a Flaw
Assistant City Attorney Goudge as
serted yesterday evening that Mr.. Gill
more did not have franchise ana
the council will have to act again be-
fore Mr.. Gilmore will have the neces-
sary legal authority for himself or the
interests behind him, whoever they
may be, to build the railroad.
Mr.. Gilmore left the council chamber
Yesterday afternoon convinced that he
had secured his franchise and the
council adjourned equally convinced
that they had granted 1t. DOCK
| Houghton was responsible for the mix
I'D, as usual. The entire proceedings
was such as to cause even those lobby
lists who are hardened to the manner IN
which the city council does things to
stand aghast at the audacity of the
citv fathers and to cause Secretary
willard of the Municipal league TO
characterize the proceedings "as the
rankest action for which the counch
has ever been responsible" 1t hap
pened in this manner:
Affair Is Kept a Secret
Not an inkling of the great franchise
had been made public although 1t was
evident certain members of the coun-
ell knew what was to occur. The petit
ton for the franchise was not filed un-
til 2:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon,
Soon after o'clock Clerk Wilde read
the petition of Mr.. Gilmore for fran
chise. The ordinance granting the
franchise was attached to the petition
This ordinance had been drawn by Mr..
Gilmore's own attorney, whereas 1t is
always customary for the city attorney
to draw up ordinances of this and
every other kind.
without waiting for any action by
the city attorney Councilman Ford
moved that the ordinance be passed.
This motion was seconded and Dock
Houghton took the floor. He objected
TO granting the franchise as he does to
most franchises. He was bitterly OPP
nosed to it and spoke at length. final
iy calling on Assistant City Attorney
Goudge.
Mr.. Goudge advised the council not
to pass the ordinance in it's present
form. declaring that the franchise as
worded might interfere with the citys
water rights in the Los Angeles river
bed and that under the charter he did
not believe the river bed could be
designated as land by the council, ana
that If 1t was land 1t would come under
the jurisdiction of the water board.
His analysis was to the effect that
positively the council had no right to
grant a franchise in the Los Angeles
river bed.
Council Is Embarrassed
"There might be way around 1t.
but If there is 1 cannot see 1t now, and
/ would most urgently ask that you
refer 1t to the city attorney for at least
a week" concluded Mr.. Goudge.
There was great hesitancy manifested
by the council. For several minutes
no one spoke, the members seeming to
feel it would not look very well to pass
the ordinance in the face of the strong
protest of the assistant city attorney,