Seattle Council Pushes Back on Streetcar Franchises

There was a meeting of the city council in committee of the whole last night to consider the request of electric railway companies for release from the condition of their franchises requiring electric lights along their lines. Dr. Kilbourne, on behalf of the consolidated lines, said that when the franchise was granted to his road the conditions were such that it made money, but now with so many competing electric lines, they were all losing. His road had been spending $39,000 a month and taking in $15,000, and even that had been reduced to $12,000. He explained that it had been hoped to light the streets with the same power as that used for car propulsion, but that had been found utterly impracticable. Delegate Calligan doubted if either of the representatives of the road who had spoken would vote, as members of the council, to relinquish conditions of a franchise. He admitted all that had been claimed as to the good accomplished by the roads, but people had gone far out on the faith of the franchise guaranteeing transportation and electric lights. If the city releases the company, the city will have to light those places. Still, he was willing to give reasonable time under the circumstances, but not to release the companies altogether.