The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-03-01
FAIL TO ACT ON
CAR FRANCHISE
CITY COUNCIL PosTPoNEs Ac-
TON FOR ANOTHER WEEK
ATTORNEY FOR STREET RAIL
WAY SUBMITS STATEMENT
OF EARNINGS IN MooRHEAD.

up by the city CounciI last nlsHL was
that of the application by the Fargo
& Moorhead street Railway Co, for
renewal of the permit for another year,
TO use the east half or the north
bridge. The consideration of the ap-
plication had been postponed from
Feb. 7. so that the full membership
of the council could be present, and IL
was postponed again for one week.
In the renewal of the application last
night, pursuant to adjournment, Atty.
G. A Nye. representing the street rail-
way company, filed with the council
in accordance with the provisions or
the charter a statement of the COM
panv's affairs covering the lines IN
Moorhead. lii gave list of the ofncers'
stockholders and the amounts held oy
each etc. The financial part OF the
statement disclosed that there had been
a net loss on the Moorhead loops our
ing the past year amounting TO $685.
After the presentation of the state"
ment Mr.. Nye filed with the council an
other statement which covered several
legal and other phases as to the right
ami Justice of the company's applica-
tiop for the use of the bridge for an
other year and in support OF lts con-
tantion there were cited authorities
and decisions handed down by the SUI
nren,e court of the United states which
| in amount meant that 1t was an
open question whether the councll
could now step in and order the rail-
way company to vacate the brldge' Inc
bridge was necessary for the contln-
uance of the service which had oeen
inaugurated between the two cities
for the general convenience Of the pup
lie of the two cities. In the matter OF
law and equity the matter OF the use
of the bridge came under the scope OF
thepost roads law or the United states
congress and the use of the structure
asked for was needed for the contln-
uance of the transmission of mails be-
| tween the two cities, which service
was regularly inaugurated and agreed
to by the governments postal authori-
ties.
Meets Demands of Public
/ number of details were referred
to in the statement, among them; tha'
the company paid for the Strengthening
of the bridge, as required by the au-
tborities of the two cities; it had
promptly paid the rental demanded by
Moorhead for the use of the bridge Il
had given good service and reasonably
had met all the demands of the PUBIC
for cars. The company had borne lt'
share of taxation and last year, alone
had expended $500 for pavements anC
street improvements, an amount con
siderably in excess of the earnings II
Moorhead. In the statement the AT
tention of the council was called Z
the acknowledged splendid servic
) which was being rendered by the com
. pany to the working men living Il
Moorhead but who had employment il
: Fargo.
Alderman Bodkin: The .treet car
are the poor mans carriage ara l ar
ready to vote for a renewal of the per
NIT
Alderman Stanford said he was graf
g flied that the company had obeyed tn
e mandates of the city charter and ha
S fled it's statement, but he called atten
e ton to the company's bond which ha
t been filed. that it did not fully compl
with the law. Mr.. Nye took exception
h but said that If the bond did not NEE
e with the approval of the city attorne
Y IL could be changed to meet his de
mands.
Mayor Has Some Figures.
Mayor Davy expressed disappoint
ment in the financial report He di
10 not believe the Moorhead loops wei
operated at loss. He believed tn;
l. in reality they were operated at q vel
is good profit and he cited a number
is figures to prove his contention, and
w read number of figures which he hs
. compiled to show the estimated receip
rs and expenses. The mayor conceded thi
the bulk of the Moorhead business WI
at the bridge. which was interstate
Its character.
The matter of the business origina
A. ing and ending In Moorhead was
prominent feature In the discussion al
Mr.. Nye said plainly that 1t was an al
gu solute impossibility to tell where mus
IN of the business began and ended. II
u people took the car in one city or Il
III other, paid the nickel and rode hith
II and yon just as they wished.
~ Laid Over For Week.
On motion of Alderman Stanford 4
matter was put over again for O.
week TO allow the city attorney to e
anime the bond and the statement
= law facts presented in writing by "
Nye.
Gust Euren, who was In the audient
on made a statement to the council al
IL urged that rhe street railway compa
n he granted the permit and the sum a.
nd substance of his remarks were til
CT there were hundreds of working m
8 and people employed who would
ISL greatly disconnected by any chan
ed which would disturb the present e
ne cellent service between the two citi
During the discussion Mr.. Nye ma
en- the plain statement that at present
T company was not in a position to Blu
lot a bridge of it's own-it had not |
ler money TO appropriate for the purpt
y however much they would like to
en- it for their own convenience.
1t was plainly obvious that the N
iority of the council was ready to W
the use of the bridge for another We
but out of Difference 1t reluctan
agreed to the postponement of the m
ter asked for by Mr. Stanford
Concordia VS.. Normal.
rtnpcordia nnIIaSa gave tha unrY