City Council Demands Streetcar Companies Light the Way
Seattle officials push to force private streetcar franchises to fulfill their contracts by lighting the streets along their tracks.
Both houses of the city council last night did a large amount of business and again took steps to compel street railway companies to light the streets along their tracks. Sweeney, chairman of the railroad committee, stated that it was the intention of the committee to make the fifteen other parties holding franchises live up to their provisions. Jordan claimed that something crooked was being done in favor of the railroads in granting them special licenses to light other streets and private residences so as to help them along in their operating expenses. He said if the railroads have agreed to light the streets they should be made to comply with their contract.
“If the railroads have agreed to light the streets they should be made to comply with their contract.”
The struggle to hold private utility and transit franchises accountable to their public service obligations is a direct ancestor to modern debates over public-private partnerships and corporate accountability in Seattle's infrastructure development.
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