Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-01-06
|NTERURBAN MEN
WIN BY STRATEGY
Traction Crew Lays Steel to
Bridge Approach, Working
Until After Midnight.
BL00DLESS BATTLE FOUGHT
Street Car People Planned
Move, but Were Late; Nc
Grath Denies knowledge.

WV MANS "tl'll 'lptk TINS inoIU-
ing crew OF nearly nuv men. em-
ploycd ry the Tulsa Traction company.
which is building the iuterurban to
Sapulpa. built i25 feet of track from
the eastern approach to the new $2OO.-
OoO bridge over the Arkansas TO the
oompanys right of-way.
This night campaign BY the trac-
tion 'onpany's forces followed rumors
that had been floating during the day
To the effect that the Tulsa Street
hallway company planned to taNe 4
larEe force Of men to the rivers edge
last night and hastily construct
track connecting its right way with
the approach.
Work on the approach was COM
pleied only Yesterday. and last night
was the first opportunity that either
the traction company or the street
railway company had to put in tho
connecting link.
Compete with CT, Line.
T. f. Crow manager Of the rae
ton company, stated last night that
within week he would have cars
operating from tho city across the
bridge Track already has been laid
ON the bridge proper. The approach
To the bridge has not been completei
on the other side. but cars can be run
To the edge Of the bridge. Temporary
steps will be built to accommodate
passengers. Mr.. Crow said.
Planned to Steal March.
That the Tulsa Street Railway COM
pany had planned to steal a march on
he interurban people and Under COW
or of darkness build TO tho approach
was the report received by Manager
Crow yesterday from no less than a
dozen sources. He paid no attention
to the report at first, but after seven
or eight different men had told him
That such was the case he decided To
sci bdsy and beat the enemy to it,"
large crew Of worlmen was as.
scmbled hurricdly and a carload Of
crosstieS was rushed In from Sand
Springs. Fifty workmen. armed with
picks aud shovels were put at the
BRIDGES edge with instructions to lay
the connecting stretch of track and to
use what force was necessary to hold
their position II had been reported
that the other side might try to take
possession by main strength.
Defeat Admitted.
At o'clock the forman of the
street car companys crew met the
traction companys foreman near .hs
bridge and acknowledged defeat.
you beat us to it by about twenty
minutes" he said IL guess there's
nothing TO do but admit IT,"
After the little stretch of track had
been completed shortly after midnight
an armed force was left to guard the
scene.
Were not taking any chances on
having our line torn up after going
to so much trouble to get It down."
said Manager Crow of the interurban
company
McGratI's Statement.
Morris McGrath. manager of tho
Tulsa Street Railway company, last
night denied knowledge of any plan on
the part Of his company to Law the
track last night
I'VE had absolutely no intention OF
doing such thing" he declared
Mr. McGrath SAID he wanted the
people of Tulsa to know that the Tulsa
Street railway officials are not op-
posed to intcrurbans.
Favor Intcrurbans
"On the contrary" he said. "we're
in favor % interurban lines. An in
terurbau is a good thing for city. aud
our company Is for anything that's
for the city's good. Just happened to
stroll down To the bridge this eve
ming and learned that the traction
"a the approach We have no obiec-
tions whatever 10 that II viii be a
SIMPLE matter fer us to get an order
from the corporation commission per-
hitting us TO buy an interest in the
qZ' feet of track.
Mcirath said attorneys for tho
street railway company will take tho
matter TO the corporation commission
shortly.
Tr Crov. 80 ,I, .r,c,i,, ,.,,,.tr,,.
said he had no desire at all to keep
the street car company or the bridge.
Contract With County.
eve have an ironclad contract with
tho county giving US unquestioncd
right to build our line TO the bridge"
he said. The very minute the con
structiOn people finished work on the
approach Yesterday We had 0uthorit-
aud right 10 start 10 work, However,
We had not Intended to comWenco
this for several days. But we did not
propose to let the other people buill
up there and force US To put up with
the dc'ay Of going TO court to get our
RIGHTS We intended to put new steel
down on the stretch TO the approach,
hut as it was We had TO use anything
We could lay our hands on in the
emergency, We had a hard time get
ting ihe crosstics to the bridge. but
iuanaged to get tho first batch there
Just at dark"
Mr.. Grow said he probably viii
Keep guard over the line until the
very day he starts operating cars.
Hot Coffc served.
lust before midnight last night
great pot OF steaming coffee ard about
two hundred sandwiches were taker
tc the night workers at the bridre
The board of directors OF the trac-
ton company, made up OF r. ". SIM
clair, @. c. Stehbins. j ). Cosdeu aad
Mr.. Grow. all Tulsa men, is deter.
mined 70 push the construction Of the
road rapidly. Rv February I. II MAJ
tcrial arrives for the western approach
to the bridge is completed cars will
be operating as far rs Red Fork on
regular schedule, according to plans.
Free seed Again