Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-12
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Omaha, July Ito the Editor OF The
Bee: Perhaps Q plain statement OF tine
facts may be in order in connection with
the recent action Of the city council grant
ing to the Omaha and Council Bluffs Street
Railway company a permit to construct
street car tracks on North Twenty-tourth
street along the east side Of Miller park
and through the Minnelusa addition. The
building Of this extension will not in any
manner increase the earnings Of the street
railway company. Like all new extensions
which have been made by this company
during the last ten years, this will cost a
large sum and will add to the expense OF
operation, but will produce no additional in
come. From a selfish standpoint the street
railway company would be much better of
II they did not make this or other extern
sions Of their lines. The company gets the
business now and the benefit In new extern
sions accrues entirely to the property own
ers along the way. They add value to the
real estate and bring transportation facilities
to the doors of those who now are obliged
to walk several blocks.
The people living in the north end OF
the city pettioned to have the North Twen-
ty-fourth street line extended. The street
railway company, recognizing its obligation
to the city, and regardless Of its financial
interests, decided to build the extension and
asked for q permit to open the street in the
same manner as other permits have been
requested for extensions that have been built
for the last twenty years or more, but the
city attorney came forward with the sug-
sestion that in granting this particlar permit
the street railway company should be obliged
to practically admit and acknowledge by &C.
cepting II that they had no franchise rights
fba If tha rity of Omaha The
first preamble of the resolution drawn by
him reads as follows: Whereas there Is
some question as to the extent Of the right
Of the Omaha and Council Bluffs Street
Railway company to occupy the streets Of
the city or to extend its road for that pur-
pose. ETC."
The attorney for the street railway COM
pany advised the officers not to accept this
permit. The matter became involved in legal
discussions, and those desiring the extern
sion were about to lose 1t, on account Of
these hair splitting technicalities. The street
railway attorney and its general manager
were instructed to accept any solution Of the
matter that would not waive or imperl any
Of the present rights Of the street railway
company. at the same time to ask nothing
from the city that would in any manner
affect its rights regarding the street railway
SompdHy lIdHCHibes. ne eOluLlOH was HHhi-
ly reached by the resolution passed by the
city council on July 6. In which. II any fair
minded man will read carefully, he cannot
help but see that the rights Of the city have
been In every manner fully protected. This
resolution reads as follows:
Whereas Omaha and Council Bluffs
Street Railway company has requested a
permit to extend its double track Of said
railway from their present terminus on North
wv ~ v-fN
to Ida street. therefore,
Be It Resolved by the City Council Of the
City Of Omaha:
That said permit be granted subject to
the condition that the granting Of said per-
nit shall be without prejudice to the rights Of
or work as an estoppel against the city Of
Omaha to hereafter question the franchise
Of the Omaha and Council Bluffs Street
street railway lines upon that part of the
street named in said permit"
The insinuation Of some Of the asitators
who have been stirring up this subject, that
the street railway company has sought or Is
In any manner seeking to fortify its rights
or take any undue advantage Of the city
by the building Of this extension. Is SO pre-
posterous and false that It needs no COM
ment.
The officers Of the street railway company
have tried In every way to be patient during
tHc COutlHuhi dtLdCkb py urespOus
sible asitators for years past Recently these
attacks have been the cause Of great hnan-
cial loss to the company. for the reason that
they have stopped the sale Of street railway
securities and have materially impaired the
credit of the company. While there is not
the least foundation for the statement that
the city Is about to take away from the
company . large part Of its property. yet
this statement, given eredence by news
papers and ofieial acts. has been suficient
to alarm security holders to such an extent
that the stocks and bonds Of the company
have deprecated In value several hundred
thousand dollars during the last six months.
No good and much harm can be accomplished
by the continual agitation Of this subject.
The agitators cannot construct single foot
Of street car tracks In this city; they may
be able to prevent the street car company
from constructing any tracks for many years
to come. G. W. WATTLEs.