Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-10-09
Council Bluffs
LAR Line FkANLHlSE PBADS
City Council Must Soon Act on Rese-
luton Validating Charter
WOULD CURE EXISTING DEFECTS
Proposition Involves Building of
Many New Lines I'm city ~ Requi-
site Authority f. secured
Long Conferences.
WOULD CURE EXISTING DEFECTS

To grant the Omaha & Council Bluffs
Street Railway company the right TO ex-
tend Its car lines In several desirable d.
rectiOns, but at the risk OF curing defects
believed TO exist in a c. after that has
forty years yet to run and which is ad-
mitted 70 be not In the interests OF the
people Is the hard problem that was yes
terday put up to the Council Bluffs city
council 1t was presented at the adjourned
meeting OF the council, which held a brief
session during the afternoon, and was the
result OF many conferences between Joint
committees Of the Commercial club and
city council and the street railway Off
cials, brought about by Mayor Malonsy in
the effort to secure at least a start in the
extension Of the car service to a degree
at least somewhat adequate 70 the growth
Of the town.
The proposition was submitted with the
concurring reports OF the committees and
letter from President c. w. wattles OF
the company, specifying the streets to be
used in lieu Of some previously suggested
by the council, but accompanied by a reso-
luton prepared by the attorneys OF the
street car company containing the validat-
ing clauses that are believed to be suffi-
Gent to put the company in safe posses
sion OF the fifty-year franchise that was
voted by the people to the East Omaha g.
Lake Manawa company, organized by the
late Charles r. Hannah, Emmett FINLEY
and others. This franchise has nearly
forty years to run. and 1t is the charter
under which the company has been operat-
ing its Council Bluffs lines for the last
year The council committee was COM
posed Of Aldermen Younkerman Evans
and Fisher, with Mayor Maloney added
by request Of the members
Mayor MaIoney Gets Busy.
The Commercial club selected its presl-
dent, d. q. Stuart, j. f. Wilcox and DR.
II. b. Jennings. Conferences have been fire.
quent since the appointment Of the COM
mittees/ last summer, but the active effort
to get something done has been made by
Mayor Maloney. The resolution passed
last November directing the city attorney
to begin an action 70 test the validity of
all the street railway franchises was a bar
to progress in the negotiations and during
the early part of the summer the council
passed resolution deferring the action,
and one OF the conditions upon which the
street railway company agrees to make
the proposed extensions is the repeal of
this resolution.
First avenue from Pearl to Main streets.
on Main street from its intersection with
Pearl north to Broadway; on Benton
street from Broadway north TO HYDE ave
nue., and with short curve on Hyde ave-
nue. on up Harrison to Fleming avenue,
and an extension from Broadway north on
Eighth street to Avenue l.
The entire extensions approximate about
q mile and will involve an expenditure of
about $4,000 A great deal OF new terri.
tory will be opened up and the constant
switching of cars at Pearl and Broadway
the most congested corner In the city will
be eliminated. The East Broadway and
Fifth avenue cars win go over the Main
street lines. The Main street line will also
be the terminus Of the new lnterurban, the
Iowa g. Omaha Short Line All OF these
cars will be run to the corner of Main and
Broadway and stopped there, bringing ali
OF the interurban traffic to the center of
the city.
~ Resolution Goes over.
Aldermen Harding and Younkerman were
inclined to question the motive that
prompted the offer from the company and
wanted plenty OF time to consider it and
Mayor Maloney said his wishes were that
the resolution should go over until the
meeting Of Monday night. This was
agreed to.
No Washington Avenue Line.
Attorney Stuart appeared before tho
council and urged the adoption of the reso-
luton. City Engineer Etnyre said Benton
street was too narrow to permit it's use
by a car line and urged the council to in
sist upon that extension starting from
Nerth Main street and passlng .he Auai-
forum and thence east on Washington
avenue to Harrison street. but the men,
bers Of the committee explained that Presl-
dent Wattles had declined to build a line
on Washington avenue because 1t would
parallel the Broadway line.
City Solicitor GIimban said last evening
that the Passage of the resolution by the
council would undoubtedly validate the
Lake ManRwa charter, and would fasteu
upon the people for a period Of nearly
forty years a charter that was not in
tended for y general street car franchise
and was at the present time inimical 20 the
public interest
1T will cure any defect that is not or
ganic." said Mr.. Kimball. 1T the Manawa
charter in the main is good, but has not
been fully complied with in it's operation.
the resolution will make It good and bind
ing upon the people. The resolution should
be published in all the papers ana the
people should be given a chance TO con-
shdef~i It"
It's the best thing we could get, and
don't believe the question OF the charter
is affected" said Attorney Stuart. ITS
start for further extensions. II the town
Is going to grow we must have more car
lines"
Text of ResoIuttons
| Following is the resolution:
Whereas. 1t Is desired by the property
owners and citizens OF the city OF Council
| BLUFFS that the Omaha q Council
! BLUFFS Street Railway company, oper-
/ aung as lessee the street rail-
way lines OF the Omaha q Council
] Bluffs Railway and Bridge company and
/ or the Omaha, Council Bluffs & Suburban
l railway company, shall continue the sale
! OF Communication books under the terms and
i conditions now IN force, and shall cause
/ % be constructed by the Omaha q Council
/ blutIs Railway and Bridge company pres
| ent owner OF the franchise heretofoFe