The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-06-26
MUST USE STEAM, THEY
SAY.


Running the Engine, out
Will Give Bond to Discon- /
tinue it in a Year
Mr.. Emory l.. Coblentz, rep
res nting the Washington, Fred
trick, aud Gettysburg Railroad /
/ Company was before the Board +
of Aldermen last Monday night,
the 22nd inst, and stated that I
he was there To try TO come TO
some amicable terms IN the mat +
/ ter OF running the steam engine
on Fourth street. He said that
the company was entirely a local
enterprise; that it was intended
in It's incipiency TO be all electric
railroad. 1t was the object OF the
company TO give the city some
/ thing that would be a benefit TO
it. but the company was in such
financial condition that 1t could
not nelp Itself. He SAID that a
COMMITTEES vi the company had
been to see about an electric
motor, but the manufacturing
company refused to sell any until
further test had been made,
which would take at least eight
months.
With this in view, the com
pany did not care TO be obliged
to abandon the idea of electricity
aud ask for steam franchise.
He also said that the company
had not the money TO establish
terminal at the end of Fourth
street. He said that the engine
would be taken off as soon as pos
sible. and the company would
give a bond. that its use would be
discontinued in twelve mouths.
He presented petitions signed by
81 residents of Fourth street, ask
ing the passage of an ordinance
permitting the use of steam, as =
motive power on Fourth street for
a period of twelve months, pro
viding the company give proper
assurances that steam would be
discontinued as motive power
at the end of that period. A pc
tition to the same effect was
presented with the signatures of
% business houses.
Ex-senator Jacob Rohrback
spoke on behalf of the residents
of Fourth street, and asked the
board 10 do what 1t had decided
upon last week and not permit
steam 10 be again used upon the
streets. He said That 1t was the
old plea for more time, and that
the trains could easily stop at the
end of Fourth street, without
) financially affecting the road.
After the petition had been
+ read, Mr.. Frank l.. Stoner, rep
resenting the company, stated
d that he noticed that the petition
; had been signed by a number of
b ladies, who were the ones to suf.
!. fer the most from the inconven
+ fence, and who were willing to
bear it with fortitude, and the
sentiment on the street was not
to crush out the railroad.
!. Alderman Lowenstein stated
that he knew what had been said
regarding the financing of the
road was true. He saw that the
' company was trying to carry out
Its franchise, and did not believe
: III trying to destroy an Industry
: He believed that the attorneys
= could make an agreement that
would be acceptable to all par.
ties.
Alderman Hahn moved that
the Railroad Company be grant
ed the extension of nine months
; for the use of steam, provided
that they give sufficient bond
that it would cease at that time.
Alderman Wilcoxon did not
think that the board could re 4.
cede from the step that it had
taken; it had done the very best
that it could; the Fourth street
residents had real grievances.
and at its last meeting the board
had given its ultimstum, and he
did not think that it could now
go back on what it had done.
The people were before the board
with personal grievances and the
board could not ignore them.
A yea and nay vote was called
for on the question Messrs.
Lowenstein and Hahn voted yea.
and Messrs. Fraley Wilcoxon nay.
The Mayor declared the motion
not carried