The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-04
TAMPA GRANTS FRANCHISE
TO BIG PHOSPHAE co. HEAD
ED BY H. L. PIERCE, A FOR
MER LAKELAND CITIZEN


pany to conduct and operate a com
mercial railroad over certain streets
was passed last night, the ordinance
being put through its first, second
and final reading and passed under
the special rule for which every
member voted in the affirmative.
This proposition is one that II. T.
Pierce has been striving to secure for
the last two years, his original plans
being to establish a large phosphate
plant on the east side of the Ybor
channel and to bring his railroad to
this plant Consideration of this was
in the hands of the port commission
ers who made every effort to meet
with Mr.. Pierce's wishes. The gov
eminent engineers made objection to
the plans as proposed and the mat
ter finally fell through.
Since that time Mr.. Pierce has
been steadily working on other
plans, for as he stated last night, he
was satisfied that Tampa would be
the best terminal for his line and he
wanted to satisfy the monied powers
of New York that Tampa would well
come his present project.
Under the ordinance passed last
night the Export Phosphate Railway
& Terminal Company secures a val
liable franchise, not only for them
selves but for the city in that it will
open up new territory of south Flor
ida with direct line into this city
and bring about a shipment from this
city of phosphate, which, Mr.. Pierce
said, would amount to 100000 tons a
year over his line and will speedily
increase to 100000 tons year with
the close of the European war.
The new road will enter the city
at Thirtieth street and First avenue
and run due west to the union depot.
The franchise also grants a right of
way over Meridian avenue from First
avenue to the north boundary line of
government lot Z, which is at Elliott
street and along any intervening
street from Meridian avenue to Max
well avenue which lies considerably
east of the estuary zone and is really
the boundary line of the vacant land
now being filled to grade by the dirt
dredged from the bottom of the
Ybor channel.
1t was pointed out by Mr.. Pierce
in his talk regarding the plans of
his people that the company proposes
to build large warehouses for hand
! ling general merchandise on land on
which they have an option at the eX-
IRENE southern end of Maxwell ave-
nue., and at other places along the
route.
This ordinance does not grant the
exclusive right of these streets to the
Export Phosphate Railway & Ter
minal company. The ordinance
reads that the tracks on First avenue
will be open to use by any other rail-
road upon such terms as may be
agreed upon between the company
and other railroads and provides a
way for arbitration according to
law on this point.
The railroad is to be operated
within the city limits in accordance
with reasonable ordinances but the
right to operate cars on Jackson
street by steam power is not to ex-
list after period of two years, which
it was explained by Mr.. Pierce, would
be only one year after the road is
built as the two-year period dates
from the signing of the franchise and
the road will not be completed, he
stated, until January l., 1917
The ordinance further provides
that there must be maintained prop
er street crossings and that the rail-
way company must pay its share of
streets that are paved. 1t also re-
quires that safety gates and watch
men must be maintained wherever
considered necessary and at the COM
pany's expense,
Section of the ordinance espec-
tally provides that the city shall not J
be liable in any wise or responsible |
for any damage suffered by reason |
of the construction and operation of |
the railway, road bed, side tracks, |
branch, warehouse. pier or wharf or !
other structure or thing constructed,
or operated by said COM
pany and the company shall forever
hold harmless for any such DAM
ages, etc.
1t is stipulated that within thirty
days of the passage of the ordinance
the Export Phosphate Railway <
Terminal company shall file with the
city clerk an acceptance of the pro-
visions of the ordinance, executed
in the name of the said company by II
its president under the corporate
seal. The company is to commence
he construction of its tracks with
n six months after the passage o.
he ordinance or forfeit Its rights
lnder the franchise. 1t must also
lave the tracks in operation within
welve months from said date.
1t was explained by Mr.. Pierce |
hat he will leave for Non, Vorl, IN !