The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-06-20
THIRD CHANCE TO
GET STREET CARS
MAN WHO WILL POST 100000
To Build Road and Leave Money Posted
Until All stipulntions of Fran
chise Are Fulllled.

If the representations made by J. NJ
Lay, who visited the city recently, are
based on facts, and there is no reason
for questioning the presumption that
they are, Yakima has a third chance
TO secure a street railway Surely out
OF the two now before the council for
consideration. and the proposition Mr.
Lay says he will in all probability
bring up. the city surely should secure
nearly what 1t wants.
MIR Lay comes introduced, 1t is said,
by prominent financiers of the East,
and 1t is intimated that he is in close
touch with James ]. Hill. 1t would
not require a great amount of faith to
believe this, for many will recall how
greatly taken with Yakima and its
possibilities Mr.. Hill was when he Wis
tied the city during the fair last fall.
There has been a lingering suspicion
in the minds of some as to whether his
visit was not for other reasons than to
see the display of the products of va
kima valley, and more than one pre-
diction has been made that he would
show his appreciation of the advant-
ages of this section by becoming con-
h'NlNd Win ~ III sunni way.
Mr.. Lay has been here for more than
a week and he has been busily en-
gagged in investigating the country
within a radius of several miles of
this city. Just before leaving he said
that the entire valley appealed so
strongly to him as field for profitable
investment that he would not hesitate
to come in and build an electric street
railway, with connecting suburban
lines: and that to show his good faith,
IL the council desired 1t, he would put
up as forfeit of $4,000 and leave it
on deposit until the road was built in
accordance with the stipulations of the
franchise.
The evening paper attempted to
quote Councilman Thompson in regard
to Mr.. Lays proposition yesterday. but,
as usual, got the statements so mixed
that Mr.. Thompson feels called upon
to make a correction, which he does in
tho following statement:
"Tnintentionafly I take it. the rep
resentative of the Republic misquoted
me In relation to my idea of the gen.
tleman who proposes to put up the
100000 forfeit for a street franchise
I stated that 7 know nothing of Mr.
Lay personally. That I would be in
cAned to believe any man who would
be willing to forfeit this amount Of
cash would mean business. That the
only people who could afford to do this
would be representatives of the North
ern Pacific, for the reason that the
Northern Pacific knows the value of
such a franchise better than any one
else and will probably jealousy guard
this fruitful field. That If bona fide
offer Of this character should be made
that 1t would emanate from the North
ern Pacific, as that corporation is about
the only institution that could dig this
amount of cash without more than
passing inconvenience 70 this pur-
pose
"Mr. Lay intimated to me that he was
closely related to Jim Hill in a bust
ness way. For the reason that the
Northern Pacific is deeply interested in
controlling the Yakima valley traffic
feel that in view of the fact that the
field Is becoming attractive to many
outside investors that that company
Will use every effort to get control OF
The desired franchise for our streets.
and therefore EXPRESSED the view that
If Mr. Lay intended to put up the sum
OF 100000 that he undoubtedly meant
business
Il do not know who Mr. Lay is, or
who his hackers are, and hope he may
represent substantial investors indie
pendent Of the Northern Pacific. II
wrote Mr., Lay today and stated, among
other things, that If he could make
proposition to the city in the form of
a proposed franchise, as good as the
one outlined by him TO me, and can
satisfy the council that he not only
means business. but is in a position to
make good on the proposition, and can
satisfy them that his proposition is
entirely independent OF Northern Pa
cifc control, that he stands an excel
lent chance of being awarded the de-
sired franchise.
Mr.. Lay will probably be in North
Yakima next week, and put his pro-
posal IN definite shape When he does
the council can make proper investi-
cation as to the merits Of his proposal.
He may make n satisfactory showing
and present a proposed franchise that
the city VIII gladly accept. and he may
turn out, as many other promoters
have 70 this city. a disappointment. At
any rate, so far as I am concerned,
he shall have a fair hearing and a
SQUARE deal. and his proposal will be
tested as the others will be-on It's alb