Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1920-04-22
STREET CAR CO.
WANTS Is DAYS
ON old BASIS
Would Continue Operation
Until Company Completes
Consumption Tests

Manager ID. A. O'Brien Of the
Brownsville Street & Interurban
Railway Company, this afternoon
submitted written proposal to May
or A. B. Cole stating that the COM
pany will resume operation immed-
lately If the city will furnish current
on rate basis as heretofore, and un-
til the company shall have had time
TO make Investigations and complete
tests as to quantity of current used
or consumed in operations. The
company agrees TO complete the test
within fifteen days.
The proposal follows:
"My Dear Mr.. Cole: At the sug-
gestion Of the committee appointed
by the Retail Merchants Association
after their interview with you this
morning, ! write 10 inform you that
this company is ready and willing to
resume street car service immediate
ly. provided the city will furnish
electric current on the basis and at
the rate heretofore paid until we
shall have had time to complete our
investigation and make the tests nee
cssary to determine the quantity Of
current used or consumed i'm our OPP
erations. In this connection | beg
leave to state that the investigation
and tests will be completed within
fifteen (l5) days from date.
The proposal was sent to the mayor
by messenger this afternoon.
The city Is willing to entertain a
proposition from the street railway
company for temporary resumption
of street car service, irrespective of
the claim of the city for service prior
to March /, Mayor A. h. Cole this
morning told a committee from the
Retail Merchants Association.
Both Mr.. Cole and City Manager
George W. Grupe, however. said il
would be impossible to furnish power
to the company at the old rate Of set
tlement, approximately $40 a month.
Mr.. Grupe said that the city could
not produce the current at this rate
and Mayor Cole said that ii would be
illegal for the city to enter into any
agreement to furnish anything at
less than cost price. Mr.. Grupe said
that it was costing the city as much
or more to furnish the power than
il would make at the rate of four
ccnts per kilowatt even when full col
lection was made, an average of $400
per month.
Both Mr.. Grupe and Mayor Cole
assured the committee that the city
was rs anxious as either the street
car company or the citizens to see the
service continued. Mayor Cole ad-
vIsed the committee to 90 to Mr..
O'Brien. manager of the company,
and advise him that the city was will
ing to give serious consideration to
any proposition the street railway
company would make.
Before calling upon the mayor and
the city manager the committee, ap-
pointed at meeting of the associa-
tion held last night, called upon Mr..
O'Brien and received an assurance
from him that the company was will
ing to cooperate with the city in re-
suming service. Mr.. O'Brien suggest
ed that the city furnish power at the
old charge until Investigations the
compan was now making could be
completed This message the com
mittee transmitted to the city.
Acting upon Mayor Coles sugges-
tion the committee returned to Mr..
! tO'Brien and asked him to submit the
city proposition. which resulted in
the letter asking the city for a fif-
teen day extension of service, on the
original basis.
The committee consisting of G.. A.
Stovall. Sherwood Bishop. Morris Edel-
stein and Joe Martinez. was appoint
ed by the Retail Merchants Associa-
ton last night after that organiza-
tion had gone on record as declaring
the street car service was imperative.
The committee from the associa-
tion was named after the meeting
had voted unanimously in favor of a
resolution demanding immediate re-
sumption of street car service. pend
ing adjustment Of the rate matter.
Members believed that the company
and the city can find common
ground for agreement, and deplored
the upset To business incurred in the
stoppage of service the past several
days.