Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1911-08-18
FRANCHISE
IS PASSED
City Council Gives Ferris Bros. a
Twenty Year Franchise
Monday Eve.
THE VOTE WAS UNANIMOUS
Line to be in Operation as Soon
as Possible---Will I'M
prove City.

Alderman Pritchard was the only
member of the city council who OBJ
jected or took exception to any part
Of the street railway franchise when
it came up for second reading and f.
nal passage Monday evening.
AS there had been several private
meetings of the council the past week
together with Mr.. Ferris it was gen
orally supposed that the council had
come to a definite understanding and
agreement as to the terms of the
franchise and that they would be un-
animous when the same came up for
definite action at the regular meet
ing.
Mr. Pritchard was free to express
his mind on one or two important
particulars in which he thought the
city ought to be better protected n
the terms of the franchise and which
If passed as it stood he feared would
Cause trouble for the city in the fl
ture
The first point on which he took
issue was the matter of grades and
that clause in the franchise which
compels the city to stand expense OF
changing tracks if they should order
the grade changed.
The alderman did not see why he
city should have to bear the expense
1t change was so ordered by the
city council, and said that he object
eu to such course. Mr.. Ferris re-
pIiad to Mr., PritGh4rd, 81 ~ttir a-tha'-
the objects of that clause was to pre-
vent fu'ure city councils from order
1nH at will, after the grades have
been established, the changing and
relocation of tracks and other equip
ment. Mr.. Ferris stated that if the
electric company was to be made the
victim Of every future council who
had the power to order changes al
the expense of the company, he did
not want the franchise.
The second objection raised by AL
German I'ritchard was directed a.
gta INST Section 8, regulating the rate
CT fares to be charged. Mr.. Pritch-
ard said that he thought the regula-
ton of the fares to be paid shoull
be vested in the hands of the CITY
council.
While the rates fixed are not con-
sidered at present as too high vet as
ne stated it is known from the exper-
1ence of other cities that trouble is
often had on this point of fares. pa
Mr.. Ferris again took the floor and
stated that if the franchise was to
te full Of restrictions he would will
hngly throw the whole thing over. He
stated that the company would regu.
iate the fares in a satisfactory man
ner and in way to get the largest
patronage possible. He stated that
1t would be foolish. for the company
to charge prohibitive rate, thus COM
pelling the peopleato walk, and fore.
Ing the company into bankruptcy. ;.
Il After some delay in which ME-.
Pr1tchard was asked if he wished 10.
move amendments he stated that he
ald not expect he could get. a second
II motion was made
q Mr.. Pritchard repeated his asser.
ton that he was favorable to the
Building of the line and only wished
to have franchise drawn So as to pro-
tect the city and its citizens as well
as the railway company. &,&
d When the roll was called on the fl.
nal passage there was no dissenting
voice, the vote being eight ayes, no
nays. The franchise as passed will
De found elsewhere in this paper.