Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1908-03-06
C0UNC|LMEN GRANT
EXTENSION OF Time
JOHN |. BECCS AND OTHERS
GET NINETY DAYS.
However. 1t is to Complete Their
lnte!urbdn Line Into the City
Aldermen Argue But Finally
Vote Neutrality-suspicious. of
VdCdting Carr St. Appears.
(From Wednesdays Daily.)

evening on the extension of time to
the Milwaukee Heat, Light and
Traction company in building their
interurban line into the city in accor-
dance with the provisions of their
franchise.
The straw that told which way the
wind blew, was in the report from
the board of public works, stating
that they had met and conferred with
Representative of the street railway
company relative to the matter of
the proposed strengthening of the
Main street bridge. The boxrd re-
ported that they had examined the
plans for strengthening the bridge
and were satisfied. The report was
ordered placed on file.
Of course, as is customary, there
were the usual preliminarles before
getting down to business and grant
ing the extension of three months to
the company-otherwise the council
might have adjourned in about twenty
minutes after being called to order.
save for the appearance of the ghost
of the vocating of Carr street, which,
it seems has come t. real life after
many "births" and "Ceaths.
Another straw that indicated more
certain that the extension would be
granted to the street railway COM
pany. was the report of the committee
on streets and bridges on the appli-
cation of the company. The report
was that the prayer b. granted. The
ordinance granting the extension was
given its third reading, followed by
a flow of oratory.
Mr.. Simmons, a representative of
the company, appeared before the
council, explaining the various rea-
sons why the company had found it
necessary to ask for the extension.
The reasons cited by the gentleman
were substantially the same as those
given IN The Leader yesterday morn
ing III an attempt to convince the
council of the injustice it would be
to refuse to grant the extension.
Alderman Hartwig asked why it
was the company had recently laid oft
iaborers, when the contention had
been the scarcity of labor to complete
the work ut the specified time. Mr..
Simmons easily explained the point
raised by saying labor was scarce in
the early stages, but that thu reas on
for laying off the employees now was
to save an enormous expense at a
seasun of the year when progress was
slow and TO start the work again
when it could be carried on at a
greater advantage.
Alderman Lutovsky asked for in
formation of the committee if any
concessions had been asked by them
Of the company in lieu of the favor
of granting the extension. Alderman
Hartwig replied by saying that the
members Of the committee realized
that the time had gone by when COLI
cessions could be asked; that the time
to ask them was when the franchise
was granted. Alderman Lutcvsky
voiced the belief that it was never too
late to ask for concessions where
favors are extended to the company.
He added that he realized that the
granting of the extension would be
no great loss to the city. but that he
felt as if the company should be
obliged to build branch line to the
fair grounds this year, or rather this
summer.
Alderman Werner argued for har-
mony. stating that the company has
the franchise and that the citizens of
Watertown should seek the good will
Of the company.
Mr.. Baumapn of the Dornfeld-
Kunert company was called upon and
stated that his company had received
the steel for three bridges for the
line between here and Oconomuwoc,
but added that 1t would be two
months before the bridges could be
completed.
Alderman Ryan and Russell could
see no reason for further delay and
spoke favorable to the granting of
the eXtentiOn.
Miss Ella Wilder appeared before
the council with a grievance, protest
ing against the laying uf double
tracks on Fifth street, citing her
largely imaginary reason. Her
fear was that the dou BILE tracks CD
would not only take up the narrow
street, but would extend into the
boulevsrds. She stated that she and
others residing on the street had
hoped against hope and therefore she
appeared before the august body to
represent the property owners
against ANY injustice.
When informed that the franchise
did not call for a double track or
Fifth street, Miss Wilder was st
somewhat of loss to know how the
cars would get back when they had
entered the city. The matter appeared
to be explained satisfactorily and
when put to a vote the proposition to
grant the extension carried unanimous
ly.