Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-10-09
GO AHEAD
Is the Order From the Council, With
Reference to Street Railway
Building.

Reference to Street Railway
Building.
A special meeting of the city council
was held Wednesday evening for the
purpose of considering the report of the
/ special committee; Sc ut out to investi-
gate street railway and street condi-
tiCns in other cities The committe
submitted lengthy report, which was
adopted and the sum and substance of
it is that the rail being laid by the local
company is all right for macadam
streets, but that a higher rail is more
practical for brick paved, asphalt,
block paved or other permanently i'm
proved streets.
The committee visited the cities of
Green Bay, Appleton, Kaukauna,
Neenah, Menasha, Oshkosh, Milwaukee
and Madison. In each of these cities
the committee found the L rail in use,
in varying heights and weights. They
found it in use on permanently i'm
proved streets and on common dirt
streets, and in most instances it was
giving the best of satisfaction. They
found rails no heavier than the ones
being laid here, which had been down
for years, and still the macadam was in
excellent condition. In some instances
where a lighter rail is used it was
found that the macadam had cracked at
the ends of the ties This they were
informed by both city engineer and
manager OF the railway company was
due to the steel not being heavy
enough, rather than to height, and also
to poor construction of the street. 1t
was also learned that it is not so much
a matter of style of rail as it is the
manner in which macadam streets
are laid, to ensure a good road on
| streets traverSed by street car line.
In short the committee found that the
local street railway company is pro-
ceeding with its track construction in
such a way as not to conflict with the
city's interests. 1t was recommended
that the matter of repairing streets
after they are torn up, be left entirely
| With the company.
The committee further recommended
that an amendment to the original
franchise, drawn up by the city at
torney be adopted. 1t was also recon-
mended that contract, for temporary
| purposes, to hold good until the ordin-
ance can be legally adopted, be ex-
ecuted to govern construction. The
committee further recommended that
an ordinance making definite the time
when the railway will be completed
and cars in operation, be adopted.
| The amendment to the franchise,
| offered Wednesday evening, requires
| that where macadam or paved streets
are laid the street railway company
shall keep in good repair at its own ex-
penSe that part of the streets lying
| between its rails and to a certain dis
tance on each side, in all width of
seven feet for single track and four
| teen feet for double track. Also that
where the city permanently improves
| streets, the railway company must, at
| its own expense, so construct its line as
to conform with reasonable require
ments, including kind of rail, etc.
| The council approved of the commit
| tees report and the general public,
desrous of seeing public improvements
made, is pleased that the matter has
been so amicably settled.
The balance of the business for the
evening was as follows:
The park boards request that a
donation of $500 be made was granted.
The money will be used, as stated in a
communication presented at previous
meeting, for the purpose of filling in
and beautifying McIndoe park and
paYirg the expenses of a landscape
| gardener.
The appointment of Henry Ellen
becker as alderman, to represent the
| Ninth ward, vice Chas. Kruger, de-
ceased, was confirmed
1t was ordered that some arrange
ment be made to protect the south
bridge from ice jams in the spring, the
sum of $500 being appropriated for
| building piers or other contrivance.
Plats of j. p Werle's, Mrs. Eva
| Quaw's and John Ringle's additions
were approved and accepted.
1t was ordered that the Leahy u
Beebee bridge be re-planked and re-
paired. The bridge has been closed to
traffic, owing to its dangerous condi-
ton.
The cost of the street railway investi-
CATION noted above, the committee re-
ported, was Sl44.61. This leaves bal
ance of $S55.39 of the appropriation of
81 900 made for that purpose, which
stays in the city treasury.
The finance committee reported that
| it was not prepared at this time to
make any recommendations for the tax
levy for the year. 1t was stated that the
committee would report at special
meeting, to be held Wednesday, Oct.
| Il.
1t was ordered that the street railway
company be notified that the surplus
dirt accommodating on Grand Ave. from
railway construction can be dumped
into the ravine near Columbia park.
| B. H. Conlin and John F. Lamont,
respectively president of the park
board and chairm an of the Agricultural
society's special committee, submitted
a communication in reference to the
obligation of the city in assuming
partial control of the fair grounds.
The communication called attention to
the terms of the contract which were
that the city is to have a perpetual
lease of the grounds for park purposes
conditional upon the Agricultural
society having use of the grounds for
fairs and like purposes. Also that the
| city pay the present Indebtedness of the
society and keep fences in repair, and
expend not less than $500 each year in
caring for and beautifying the grounds;
the society has the right at all times to
erect new buildiDOs