The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-01-26
The Traction Company's Proposal


pnay, which has been under conSld-
Grafton for several weeks. The nov
city of the proposal is mainly IN a
greater stretch Of its liberaIIty,
which has been suggested by a
number OF friends of this corpora
ton.
The proposal in brief is thesrant-
ing of what is termed universal
transfers in consideration of the eX-
tension of the franchises OF It's sew
eral lines to terminate in 1854.
In this proposal is the plea that
the extensions are for only thirteen
wears. which is misleading. One OF
the franchises of this company Is
limited to 1871 How valuable 1t
will be at that time it is not possible
to estimate. This extension to the
wear 1871 was secured through the
City Council several years since,
when a bare quorum was IN attend
ance and which action provoked the
vigorous protests of the city attor-
ney. It has been frequently alleged
that one of the purposes OF the eX-
tension is to cure some defect III
this grant. However, this question
at this time is somewhat irrelevant.
The proposal which is to be sub
mitted to the qualified electors OF
Shreveport is in the operation OF
what is known as the Lorenz rail-
way and its connection with the
Highland Park with the West End
line to the Greenwood road and
thence to the corporate line on the
Greenwood road, which is a short
distance from the main entrance OF
the Fair grounds on the Greenwood
road.
Although not in the writings, the
intent is to abandon the trackage
from the Greenwood road to its
present terminus at the loop.
For and in consideration OF these
connections and the extension OF all
the franchises to the year 1854,
transfers are offered as compensa-
ton, for privileges which in Dallas,
for instance, there would be re-
1uired some fixed value in dollars
and cents. For school children OF
public and private schools half
fares are to be granted, good all the
year round, at the rate of 10 tickets
for 25c, or 40 tickets for $1.OO,
which are to be procured from the
company and which are not trans
ferable.
For adults the fare is sc with the
privilege of transfers at terminal
points.
This PROPOSAL of fares is a great
Improvement over what was offered
several years since, when the eau
casian led the contest which over
whelmed the Traction Company in
defeat.
In reviewing in brief the ordi-
nance which was published in the
Times issue of yesterday, the pur-
pose is to give the readers of the
Caucasian the gist of the intent OF
the Traction Company.
1t has been stated in news re-
port that the proposed ordinance
has been unanimously endorsed BY
The Merchants Association and by
the directors of the State Fair,
which is true, but the endorsement
received at the Merchants Associa-
tion was by bare quorum, and the
endorsement by the Fair Associa-
fion was limited to seven directors,
with eight being present, the minor
ity member -reserving the right tol
exercise his action as he may deter
mine. Such endorsement is not
binding ON the members who were
not present at these endorsements. |
In this statement the purpose isl
to correct the impression that the
endorsements referred to were byt
the entire membership of these or
carnations, which is unintentional-
~ misleading.
The attitude OF the Caucasian oni
the proposal of the Traction Com
pany is reserved for the present,
but when it shall have given its full
and impartial consideration to the
project it shall not hesitate in its
alignment. And with no intent Of
being dictatorial, we would advise
that no citizen shall commit him.
self by petition or otherwise to a
support of the Traction Company
until what is expected by that COR
poration shall have been so fully
and plainly shown as to be beyond
the possibility of misunderstanding.
In the ordinance there are several
omissions which will be pointed out
in time and which while apparently
frivolous may become of great i'm
portance should the majority of the