The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-03-09
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Received Considerable Attention at Last Nights
Meeting of the City Council-Agree Upon
Tentative TRANSITIONAL introduce
ton at Next Meeting

the Wenatchee Valley Railway &
Power company was the event of the
evening at the council meeting last
night. The franchise was informal
ly read and discussed prior to the
formal reading, which will probably
be at the next meeting.
L. J. Nelson spoke for the COM
pany. The franchise has not been
submitted to the city attorney and
he took no part in the discussion.
The time of the franchise was re-
iuced from the so year term wanted
by the company to 80 years.
Mr.. Halbert was in favor of al
lowing a SO year term, and Mr..
Begg discussed the matter at some
length, showing that the expense for
building railway here would be the
same as elsewhere, while the returns
in larger cities would be greater. The
council agreed that rs years was
scarcely long enough and after an
attempt was made to compromise at
35 years, a final agreement was eff
fected for 80.
The company was averse to de-
posting cash bond, contending
that security bond would be just as
good. Mayor Gellatly stated that Sc
curity bonds were hard to cash in,
when occasion required, and that a
trifiing $4,000 bond was a small
matter for a concern contemplating
an expenditure of millions. Mr.. Nell
son admitted that there was some
thing in that
Mr.. Gellatly took occasion to speak
plainly to the representative of the
railway company on the subject of
the councils position of the matter
of granting the franchise. The coun-
Gil is inclined to feel favorably tow
ard the company but it has the in
terests of the city to protect and
must be careful about taking any &C.
ton that will tend to hold others
from entering the field unless abso-
lutely satisfactory assurance of good
faith and ability to prosecute the
enterprise can be shown and Sc
cured.
Mr.. Nelson stated that the COM
pany was ready to go ahead at once
as soon as it could know that a fran
chise was available.
The franchise matter was passed
over to City Attorney Crollari for
one week and will be presented for
the first reading at the next meet
ing.
No Complaints About Steps.
It was expected that the property
owners on Wenatchee avenue who
had been affected by the "step ordi-
nance" would appear before the
council last night, but no represen-
tatives appeared.
Appoint Councilman.
The resignation of Councilman
McGohan, which was rendered re-
Gently, was passed upon, and Frank
C. Lemon unanimously elected to
succeed him. Mr.. Lemons accept
ance has not been received.
Fire Department Matters.
The report of the fire committee
was to the effect that the department
was needing hook and ladder
truck, team, hose, siphon pump, and
other things too numerous to men,
ton. The committee recommended
that what was needed be purchased.
Mayor Gellatly introduced the
matter of securing an automobile
truck and Chief Throw presented
statistics to show that an automo-
bile could save its difference in cost
in two years. The economy Of oper-
alton for the auto Is universally con-
coded and it has been demonstrated
that the autos in other cities have
been able to go over muddy roads
and up hills with as good results as
can be obtained from three-horse
bitches.
Mr.. Stacy felt that the city should
have a second team that could be
used for general city purposes, kept
in the department house at night
and available for fire uses. The
matter was continued until another
meeting.
Notice to Be Given of Water Shut OF
Councilman Halbert introduced a
motion to the effect that the water
commissioner should give notice,
through the papers, when practical
whenever the water supply has to be
shut OF.
Still Others Would Be in Improve.
ment DISTRICT.
U. F. Lake presented a petition
from Fifth street residents who want
to be included in the Improvement
the residents felt that hardship
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