Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1910-02-28
FRANCHISE OPPOSED
COUNTY MEETING OPPOSES RAIL.
WAYS ON PUBLIC ROADS.
Repre- eSenfafiveS from All sections of
ChehaIiS County Meet Yesterday
to Discuss the interurban Fran.
ChiSe, 60 on Record as Opposed
TO Railways on Public Roads.

The meeting held III Aberdeen yes
= terday afternoon to consider the
franchise asked for over the coun-
y roads by the GrayS HarbOr In
terurban Co. spoke in no uncertain
tones. and uttered an emphatic pro-
test against the use of county roads
for railway purposes. IT, in suggest
ing this meeting. Commissioners Ar
land and Davis really desired an eX-
preston OF the county on this meas
ure, with view OF being guided
thereby, they will not hesitate to-
morrow to deny the application.
The meeting yesterday was, in all
probability. as representative body
as could be selected in Chehalis
county. The commercial organiza-
tions OF Hoquiam. Aberdeen, Mon
tesanO, Elma, Summit and Oakville
were represented by committees. and
those organization had gone on rec
ord as opposed to the franchise with
the exception of MontesanO. The at
tendance WIS too large for the Ho-
tel Washington, and the meeting was
held in the city council room, about
80 being present.
Organization was effected by the
selection of G. l.. Humbarger for
chairman and G. Nj. Powell secre-
, tary. and the discussion was opened
by Judge j. C. Pearson, who said
he was opposed to the use of public
reads by public service corporations.
and that he had donated land in this
county for such roads, and gave no.
tice that an effort to give them to
Il private corporation would be re-
sisted.
j. ]. Carney proposed to amend
the franchise, as now before the COM
nissioners. section by section, and
! introduced the following amendment
10 section one: Change the section
by limiting the right to a single
track on the road; prohibit the haul
ing Of legs, the use of steam loco
motives or third rail system; omit
the water pipe privilege and the use
Ct county bridges and culverts, and
limit the right to II feet s inches
On one side OF the road"
Before this was acted upon, j. c.
Hogan read a form of franchise pre-
pared by him that was very compre
nensive, and covered the ground full
ly, safeguarding the public interests
carefully, and leaving nothing indef-
Z.
Before taking any action on modi-
fications of the pending franchise, it
was deemed well to secure the sense
CT the meeting on the matter of so
using the reads at all, and, with this
view, the following resolution was
introduced:
Resolved, that the sense of this
meeting Is that the county roads
t.i, ~ ln iIyIrl VIC NJ
any kind. other than such crossings
as may he necessary" The resolu-
ton was adopted by two to one
vote, and left the matter Of modif-
cations unnecessary, but Judge
Hodgdon, OF Hoquiam, advised hav-
ing a modified proposition prepared
in the event the commissioners de-
cided to override public sentiment
and grant ii franchise over the
reads.
The entire subject OF railways on
public roads was discussed by rep /
resentatives from all sections of the
county. Henry Harlan, the veteran
editor from Callvi.1e, said the farm |
ers in that locality were a unit in
opposition to such use of the roads. |
J. w. Strubel, of Elma, said the COM |
mittee from his city were sent to
oppose the franchise, while j. e. !
Calder, of Montesano, favored the
grant, and thought franchise might
be framed that would care for the
rights of the public, and still permit
an interurban railway on the roads |
Frank Lamb, of Hoquiam, said the
Hoquiam Commercial club was op- |
posed to the use of county roads for
logging purposes, and he did not
think the public roads a suitable or
safe place for railroads OF any kind.
w. J. Patterson, of Aberdeen, said !
he opposed railways on public roads
but thought that the Interurban
company should meet. with due
courtesy, as most of them were gen.
tlemen of standing in the commun-
ity and were actuated by desire
to develop Chehalis county, and, If
this meeting believed their effort to
be in wrong direction, the deci-
sion should be made in courteous
manner. With this view, Mr.. Pat
terson moved that committee of
five from each locality here repre-
sented. meet the Interurban people
and acquaint them with the result |
of the deliberations of the meeting. |
lnlS committee Hlel dt oHCe, III
the mayors office. and organized by |
the election of w. j. Patterson chair |
man, and j. j. Carney, secretary. 1t
was decided that. as some localities
did not have five members present, |
each locality be given five votes on
such questions as might come be-
fore the meeting. This committee
was authorized to meet representa- /
tives of the Interurban company, ac- |
quaint them with the decision Of the
general meeting, and discuss a modi |
fled franchise for use in the event |
the county commissioners ignored !
the general protest. The lnterurban