The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-07-15
The NTERURBAN
AND TRACTION Co.
Some CALCULATIONS AS TO
PROBABLE COMBINATION
BETWEEN THE TWO.
ONLY One LINE LIKELY
says Citizen Who Seems to Be Posted
Both Need New Frontage
Petitions for CONNER
ciaI Business.

There has been talk of a combina-
ton OF some sort between the McKin-
ley Interurban people and the Cairo
Electric a. Traction Company. So far
there has been no formal proposition
made either way The directors of
me latter company have had no Off
cial notice of any proposition from
the Mckinley people. yet II is authori-
tafively stated that the matter has
been talked about When Mr. Fischer.
Of the Mckinley Company. was in
Cairo several weeks age. he preached
the subject 10 w. ?. Halliday and
others of the Traction Company and
ii Ii stated that the latter were not
averse to considering a fair offer. OF
some sort II was stated some time
ago thai a proposition from another
source was met by the Cairo Traction
Company With what the other parties
considered an extiayagant price and
negotiations were dropped.
Mr.. Halliday is quoted as having
spoken favorably Of an arrangement
by which the MeKinef people would
build the interurhan and handle the
Lusiness outside the CITY, and the
Cairo Traction Company would handle
the business into and cut OF the city
under mutually satisfactory arrange
ment
One who seemed to consider him
self well posted yentured yesterday
To express the belief that this wonl
probably be the outcome unless a sale
Of the Traction Company's interests
was agreed npon. He said he did not
believe that both companies would
build interurban lines to Mound City,
Mounds and villa Ridge. nor even toi
Mound City and Mounds nor yet 10
the Half Way House only. The Trac-
tion Company did not think II would |
be prof able to build one line not so
very long ago and il certainly would
moi be profitable to build two. Hence, |
like reasonable business men. such as
both parties are. the Mckinley and /
Traction people would certainly get
together. somehow with respect I'd i
the inteiurban project. This would |
probably not he accomplished. how
ever. without some little preliminary
fighting for advantage, because the
stronger each stands the better bar
gain he can enforce
At present the situation seems to
be somewhat unsetlled so far as the
interurban project is concerned. The
Traction Company has its city busi- I
ness In good shape with frachises in |
hand for some important changes and
extensions. II has a good piece of |
property in the city system, that is
making money. and seems OF late to I
be operated to the general satisfac-
ton OF the public. II is under con.
tract to spend good bit of money for
street Improvement and seems likely
to be called upon for more in this
direction. but seems to be meeting
these obligations in business-like
way and in cheerful spirit. But in
the matter OF an interurban franchise
for commercial business. the Trac-
ton Company Is believed TO be no bet
ter off than the Southern Illinois In
te~-.rban Company. for they too will
have to get new frontage petition
e. handle that character Of business
ev have as vet taken no steps tol
d. this. ii is said. and until they do
aud have succeeded in getting II. and
franchise regranted upon said peli-
ton they will not be in a position TO
make any deal with any interuiban
company to exchange city for coun ry
business.
The Southern Illinois lnterurban
Company has been engaged for some
days past in an effort to procure
new frontage petition in which the
commercial branch is a specific fea-
ture II has met with some opposi-
tion from property owpes along
Washing on avenue who fear that the
company purposes to avoid some of
the street Improvement conditions
embodied in its original franchise or
dinance; but there is no good ground
for such fear. as the company means
10 have the original franchise orii-
cinance re-enacted. with all its cOndi-
tions and penalties. the only change
being that 1t viii be permitted to do
n commercial business
II is the belief of the gossipy citi.
zen referred 10 that the company
which, = Is ready first tn build Cairo's
interuf6dk Inc sfft have sbe-only in
line