The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1910-03-06
THE FAIRFIELD AVENUE ELEC-
TRIO RAILWAY.

Council, which is to be held Tuesday
night March 8, the Franchise Commit
tee will probably report on the proposed
construction of the Fairfield avenue
electric railway.
For the construction of this railway
the citizens concerned in securing this
car service have subscribed the neces-
sary amount in cash.
The construction and operation OF
this railway is to be by the Shreveport
Traction Company.
A franchise expiring in 1911 is de-
sired.
No franchise should exceed twenty
years.
In large cities franchises are limited
to twenty and twenty-five years.
Franchises should possess value, and
have fixed values in cities and towns not
situated as is Shreveport.
In Shreveport, until recently, every
demand of the Traction Company has
received favorable consideration at the
hands of the Council.
Through the City Council franchises of
value have been granted and extended
for a song and for which neither the
city nor the people have received an
equivalent.
Recently in Dallas, Texas, an electric
railway in fling its charter before the
Council of that city, stipulated the most
favorable conditions for the city and for
the people The charter is limited to
twenty years, besides grant of trans
fers the company is obligated to pay into
the treasury of the city of Dallas four
per cent of its gross earnings.
This same rule applies in the cities
besides Dallas, but in Shreveport it
would seem that some members of the
Council, as in the years gone, are ready
and willing to concede all the demands
of the Traction Company.
Why?
If there had been no contest III the
Council over the demands of the Trac-
ton Company when its scheme OF
transfers which would not transfer, was
referred to a referendum and over
whe1mingly defeated, the Traction Com
pany would have acquired greater
value than it now possesses, and ii
would practically be in full control of
Shreveport
1t may be questioned if the referen-
dunn would have been favored had the
Traction Company anticipated the re-
pudiation of its proposal for so-called
transfers il. consideration of the extern
sion of all its franchises to years when
thousands of those now active in flesh
will be gone forever
It is to be hoped, and it is believed,
that the Franchise Committee while re
porting favorably, will insist on the full
hlIment of conditions which are intend
ed to be of benefit, not only TO the citi-
gems who have subscribed the money for
the construction of this railway, but to
all the people who in time will ride on
the cars operated over this line
In a personal sense, the subscribers
may, at this time, disagree with this
view of the case, but when in operation
this railway will be opened to the pub
lie, who should be fully protected in
their rights, on paying the fare required
for the ride.
Transfers should be insisted upon and
be made part of the contract.
Children attending school should be
privileged to ride on reduced fare dur
ing the hours of schools.
Policemen and men engaged in off
ciai service of the city, when on duty,
should ride free.
The occupants of charitable institu-
tons, such as the orphalage, training
school, and other charities, should ride
free.
The city should be fully protected in
every requirement connected with the
repairing Of streets traversed BY this
line The city should not be compelled,
as in the past. to force the company TO
do its duty through legal proceedings
Such demands for the people are reas-
enable, and if the councilnen, as repre-
sentative Of the people, they will do their
duty fairly and with no intent at favorit-
ism, and they will insist on having every
stipulation protecting the city and the
people, such as transfers, free riding for
school children and for officers of the
city when on duty, and for the occu-
pants OF institutions which are main
tanned BY public and private charities,
and the repairing Of the streets. etc,
plainly and intelligently written, so as to
avoid evasion or misunderstanding in
the future.
The suggested four per cent of the
gross earnings of the company may be
eliminated, but all the other stipufations
should receive the most favorable con-