The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-03-30
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
City Council Refused Application of the Wenatchee|
Valley Railway & Power Company for
Extension of Time on the Franchise
From Thirty to Fifty Years

The franchise for the Wenatchee
Valley Railway & Power company
was not passed last night by the city
council to the third reading. This
was not done, however, without con-
siderable oratory on the part of the
promoters of the railway. Attorney
L. ]. Nelson of Leavenworth, having
the matter in charge, was present
and stated that since the last meet
ing of the council he had taken the
matter up with the men who are
backing the enterprise and they con-
slider that the 30-year franchise is
too short time and that If he could
not secure the extension of the fran
chise that he would have to ask to
have it laid over for time at least.
J. w. Quigg addressed the council
on the extension of the time. He
stated that he had become associated
in the company and would interest
enterprise providing longtime
franchise was given. Mr.. Quigg
stated that he would start work in
September on building the bridges
between Wenatchee and Leaven-
worth. This would entail an ex-
penditure of approximately 100000.
He recited in detail some of the bene-
fits that would accrue to Wenatchee
from the building of the road. He
estimated the cost of construction
and rolling stock, depots, ETC., at
about 100000, and stated that
capitalists looking for franchises of
this sort would not care to go into
a short-time proposition. He stated
that for the first ten years, anyway,
there would be no money in operat-
ing an electric line in this valley.
Probably there would be a DOSAGE
and should the valley then go ahead
as was promised there would be more
money in the operation after ten
years and should it not go ahead
there would be no big money in it.
Consequently he felt that the city
council should make a special in
ducement to interest capitalists in
this enterprise and should be willing
to grant at least a 50-year franchise.
Asks Financial Showing.
There seemed to be a disposition
On the part of the city council last
night to make the extension to 40
or so years, providing the members
had assurance that there was money
in sight by the promoters to build
the line. In fact, Mr.. Nelson was
told that if his company could make
showing to the council that it had
the funds to build the road that the
extension would be granted. The
company, however, does not care TO
make a public showing of its as
sets. The officers, however, are posi-
tive in the assertion that they see
their way clear to start in at once
on the enterprise.
Mr.. Nelson made a good point be-
fore the council last night, however,
in stating that the city was well pro-
tected in granting the franchise as
the company desired, from the fact
that the franchise calls for cash
deposit Of $4,000 and a surety bond
of $4,000 and this is forfeited to
the city in case the terms of the fran
chise are not complied with.
Mr. Quigg also made the positive
statement that he and his northern
associates will commence work this
fall on the bridges for the line,
which will cost in the neighborhood
of 100000, and evidently the pro.
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