The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-03-23
One Lone Car of West Side
Rapid Transit Company
Leaked.
MUCH AMUSEMENT
CAUSED BY RECITAL
Council Committee Decides to
Give the Electric Line
Another Chance.

Everybody has heard Of one horse
concern. hut few people are aware that
Salt Lake City has ono car concern.
But it has; it is the West Side Rapid
Transit company, which operates the
electric line to Cannonyille in New
England addition.
On protest made l,y residents in
that district calling attention 10 the
wretched service given by the com
pany, the question Of revoking the
franchise. which has about three years
to run, came up before the committee
on municipal laws of the city council
last night The hearing developed much
amusement and also trying condition
of affairs for the residents IN New Eng
land addition.
e. c. Lacknie. attorney for the COM
panv, appeared before the committee
and made a plea for the retention of
the franchise He said they had a ter
rible accident on the road week or
two ago--a wheel came Off the car.
"What, have you only one carr
somebody asked,
"Yes. we have only one car.' re-
Piled the attorney,
He went on TO say that they had to
90 out and buy a wheel and 1T was
three davs before they could get one.
and there was no service during that
time. He said, however, that they IN
tended to improve the roadbed this
spring. They made a trip every hour,
and the daily average of passengers
was 10 to 200.
Councilman Black remarked that
there was not much chance for graft
there. "Abe Ruef wouldn' t look
at it -
Councilman HOLIDAY said he had oc-
casion to use the car sometimes and he
always walked. Once he wanted mes
senger to go down on the car, but the
boy renieged; he said be would 60 on
his bicycle or he never would get
back.
Had to Use Umbrellas.
Then Councilman Fernstrom got in.
He said he travelled on the car once and
as he did so two passengers sat inside
all the time holding umbrellas over
themselves for protection. The car
leaked.
Councilman Black wanted to know
if they really had improved the sys-
tenn by repairing the leak
Attorney Lacknie started to explain
by saving: "Well. now, gentleman, [
think it s pretty fair car. but ev-
erybody started TO laugh.
j. e. Wiley, one Of the residents,
said the service was a disgrace to the
city The company had had a chance
to sell the road TO the Utah Light and
Power company for $4,000, but they
wanted s50,000.
Mr.. Bennett. another resident in the
district, said the service was awful.
and speaking of the road ne said: ''It
doesn Z 90 anywhere. When YOU start
on it in the morning You usually finish
up by walking the greater portion of
the distance.
Mr.. Davis an employe Of the com
pany. said when wheel came off he
waited until he got check to go and
buy one or two from the Utah Light
and Power company. and since that
concern changed hands there was great
delay in getting wheel. THAT s
why there was no service for three
days he said. "Whenever we got
them we put them on as quick as we
COULD. -
The committee realized that the serv-
ice was deplorable. hut it did not de-
sire to deal harshly with the company.
so action was delayed to give the at
torney mn opportunity to communicate
with the owners and report what i'm
provements are to be made. If moth
ing effective is done the franchise will
be confscated