The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-10-26
SEATTLE's OWNERSHIP IDEA.
Unique Campaign Of Education Put
Quietus on Scheme to Build New
Street Gar System.

Seattle, Washington, ione !of the
livest and most independent towns
on earth, has just settled the munich
pal ownership question, after one Of
the most exciting campaigns any city
ever had. The fight was particularly
interesting in view of the methods
utilized to combat the municipal own
crship idea and because of the fact
hat the vote finally cast represented
reversal of sentiment against an
election held before a complete cam
paign Of education was organized.
, Seattle has now, therefore, refused
to build al independent street rail
way system. It already has very
complete traction system, the major
ity stock in which is owned by Messrs.
Stone and Wheeler, the Boston capt.
| talists who make a speciality of con-
ducting public service plants through
out the country.
The plan submitted to the people
was exceptionally clever. 1t made
up of three elements: 1) A proposed
system of 20.17 miles of track, to be
constructed as soon as possible, and
to be paid from an issue of fl ,272,036
III bonds; (2) trackage of So miles,
to be constructed as soon as practi-
cable, provided the initial system
could be made to produce revenue
sufficient to induce investors to pur-
chase bonds based on a percentage or
gross earnings, involving an addition
al bond issue Of $3,OO0,000; and (3)
subway and elevated systems at II
further cost Of $3,307,904.
Wouldn't Cost Cent.
Although the people were asked to
authorize bond issues to the amount
Of $4,272, 900, it was only proposed
to build at once the 20.17 miles Of
trackage. Nevertheless elaborate
maps, showing the proposed system,
in its entirety, including elevated
tracks and subways, the present build
ing Of which was in no way contem-
plated, of municipal ownership. By
such arguments it was sought to show
how Seattle could acquire this great
system without costing the municip-
! ality cent"
The municipal ownership forces
were organized and sl<illfully led.
They held their first meeting, sur
rounded by representatives Of labor
unions, and formed campaign com
mittec, of which Judge w. D. Wood,
a former Mayor, was made chairman.
They began their campaign at once
with much vigor and system.
Many conditions favored the side
of the opposition. Probably greater
portion of mechanics, artisans and
working men Of Seattle own their
homes than in any other city in the
United States. AS result Of this
the influence of labor organization is
not as great there as elsewhere. More
over, the city had numerous import
ant and insistent needs straining her
financial resources. Her debt already
reached the constitutional limit. The
valuations were about to be raised
fully so per cent, thus providing Il
greatly augmented borrowing capaci-
ty, but even this would only furnish n
fund barely sufficient for carrying
out necessary improvements including
the enlargement Of water supply, paw
in,:, sewer extcMsicn, and other i'm
EIovements.
Seattle's Present Street Railroads.
Another factor which favored the
opposition was that half dozen years
gro Seattle was eervcd by no less than
thirteen separate street car lines
most of them operated by receivers.
The Seattle Electric Company the ma
jority Of stock in which was owned
by Stone & Webster, consolidated
these lines. put them under one GEN.
ira! management. inaugurated COM
r etc transfer system, renewed and
irprovnd the equipment, and as a re-
1T immeasurably improved the ser.
vice.
The population of Seattle is now
officially estimated at 10000 and
the tracllage Of the electric company
amounts to Id miles. or one mile for
cvnrv 1910 persons, trackage far
| above tho aynraoc TO residents Of