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| Main Street and Court Street intersection, camera facing north. Photo copied from Grip's Historical Souvenir of Cortland. |
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| Segment of 1894 map of Cortland. |
THEY HAVE
THEIR FRANCHISE.
THE CITY FATHERS GRANT A FRANCHISE FOR AN
ELECTRIC ROAD.
The Vote Unanimous—Full Text of the
Franchise—The Town Board Follows Suit.
At a regular
meeting of the board of village trustees held last Monday evening in the office
of clerk Hatch, all the members being present, Mr. Horace E. Hand of Scranton
appeared and renewed the application for a franchise to change the motive power
used on the street railroad from horse power to electricity, and for permission
to extend the line to McGrawville and through certain streets of the village.
Mr. Scudder moved the adoption of the following, which motion was carried
unanimously:
Resolved,
That such consent and franchise be and is hereby given and granted by the
board of trustees of the village of Cortland to the Cortland and Homer Horse Railroad Co. to change its motive power from horse
power to electricity, and to extend, construct and operate the same in and upon
the streets of said village hereinafter named in the following form which
constitutes the franchise.
THE
FRANCHISE.
Resolved,
That consent is hereby given to said Cortland and Homer Horse Railroad company,
its successors and assigns, to substitute electricity as a motive power instead
of horses on its present line as now located extending from the depot of the E.,
C. & N. R. R. in Cortland along Main-st. and Homer-ave. to the north
corporate line of the village.
Consent
is hereby granted said Cortland and Homer Horse Railroad company, its successors
and assigns, to construct, maintain, extend and operate its lines on the
following streets in said village of Cortland, with the necessary poles, wires,
fixtures and appurtenances for the safe and proper operation thereof by
electricity, namely: From the intersection of Main-st. and Tompkins-st. upon
and along Tompkins-st. to a proposed street now called Broadway; thence on
either Delaware-ave., Frank-st. or Duane-st. to Squires-st.; thence upon and along
Squires-st. to Owego-st.; thence upon and along Owego-st. to Railway-ave.; thence
upon and along Railway-ave. to the present terminus of said road near the E., C.
& N. depot. Also from the intersection of Main-st. and Clinton-ave., upon
and along Clinton-ave. to Church-st., thence upon and along Church-st. to
Railroad-st., thence upon and along Railroad-st. to Pendleton-st.; thence upon
and along Pendleton-st. to Elm-st.; thence upon and along Elm-st. to
Pomeroy-st.; thence upon and along Pomeroy-st. to Port Watson-st.; thence upon
and along Port Watson-st. to the village of McGrawville. Also commence at the
intersection of Pomeroy-st. and Port Watson-st. upon and along Port Watson-st. going
westerly to the intersection of Port Watson-st. with Main-st.; thence across
Main-st. to Tompkins-st. Also from the intersection of Groton-ave. and Main-st.,
upon and along Groton-ave. to Homer-ave.; thence upon and along Homer-ave. to Maple-ave.,
thence upon and along Maple-ave.to Woodruff st.; thence along Woodruff-st. going southerly to Groton-ave.; thence upon
and along Groton-ave. going westerly to the west line of land now owned by J.
M. Samson, lying on the south side of Groton-ave.; thence going southerly over
the proposed streets, and upon lands of Mrs. J. M. Milne, which extended will intersect
with the street now known as Broadway; also going southerly upon and along the
proposed street now known as Townley-st. and to its extension, passing along
southerly to intersect with the proposed street now known as Broadway.
Also the
right to construct said road upon and along any street or avenue which shall hereafter
be dedicated by said Cortland village on the lands of J. M. Samson, which
street would extend southerly from Groton-ave. and extended would intersect with
said proposed street now known as Broadway; thence upon and through Broadway to
Tompkins-st.; on the following conditions viz:
The track
shall be a single track with a gauge of four feet, eight and one half inches, with
the necessary turnouts, switches and sidings. But between the E., C. & N. R.
R. depot and Otter creek bridge on Main-st,, no turnout, switches or sidings shall
be permitted other than where they now exist in said railway, except necessary connections
with other streets.
The track shall be laid in the center of the
travelled part of the street, and the rails shall be the kind known as "T"
rails, if authorized by law, and upon all unpaved streets there shall be placed
on each side of each rail, a plank chamfered and laid tight to the rail. Said
plank to be not less than eight inches in width and not less than two inches
thick. In case of relaying the track, where the streets are paved, the pavement
shall be replaced and put in good condition, in the space between the rails and
tracks, and for two feet outside of the track, and in case of the macadamizing,
paving or future improvement of said streets, the said railway company shall make
such improvements for the space designated above, that is, between the rails
and tracks, and for two feet outside the track; the same to be done
simultaneously by said railway company at its expense, and to be of the same kind
of pavement that is laid upon either side of the track; or in case of default
by said railway company to do so, it shall be done by the village at the
expense of said railway company.
In laying
said track the said company is to retain the present street grade or such as
may hereafter be established, and the rails of said road shall not be over one
inch above the surface of the street and the plank, on unpaved streets, and the
space between the rails of the track shall be properly filled and kept in
repair for the easy and safe passage of vehicles, and on all paved streets, the
rails of said road shall not be above the surface of the pavement.
When the
streets shall be paved, the rails upon such streets as are or may hereafter be
paved are to be supported by a chair or girder rail approved by the board of
trustees of the village.
The work
of constructing said railway shall be done under the supervision of the street
commissioner, to the extent of seeing that the said streets are left in as good
condition as before commencing the work. That the company conform to the grades
given and that they comply with the requirements and conditions of the
franchise.
The
construction of said railway is to be commenced in good faith within six months
after having obtained the consent of the municipal authorities and property owners,
and to be completed as far as the present horse line railway extends and from
Main-st. from its intersection with Clinton-ave. to Port Watson bridge within
one year thereafter. If said company shall fail and make default in commencing the
building of said railway on any of the streets named in this franchise within one
year from obtaining consents as mentioned above, and complete the same within two
years from June 1, 1894, then this franchise, so far as the street or streets where
such default or failure shall occur, shall lapse and be of no force and effect.
Or if the consents mentioned above shall not be obtained
within two years from the date of this franchise, then the same shall lapse and
be of no force or effect.
This
franchise is granted upon the condition and subject to the right of the village
to make any repairs, crosswalks, or gutters on any of the streets on which said
road may run, and to change the grade of the surface or direction of such
streets, and limit and regulate the speed of its cars, as said village in its
judgment may desire without recompense to said company.
And where
said road is laid above or over any sewer that may hereafter be constructed by
said village, the village shall have the right to build or make any necessary repairs
to said sewers without being liable to said company for damage resulting from
suspension of travel on their road, during the building or repairing of any such
sewers.
The said
company is also to remove from its tracks all snow, ice, and dirt that may accumulate
thereon, and transport the same from the streets at its own expense. All of
said railway, with its switches, turnouts and turn-tables, is to be built and
repaired under the direction of the board of trustees of the village of
Cortland, and in conformity with chapter 565 of the laws of 1890 and the acts
amendatory thereof.
Before
commencing work said company shall have a bond of indemnity against all damage
that may result to person or property from construction, maintenance or operation
of said railway, in form and amount, and with such sureties as shall be approved
by the board of trustees; which bond shall from time to time be renewed, as the
board of trustees may require, and in case any action shall be brought against the
village of Cortland to recover damages for injury to person or property, or death
of any person occasioned by said company in the construction, maintenance or
operation of said railway, said railway company shall upon written notice given
them by said village of Cortland, of the pending of any action for injury to
person or property or death, be required to defend said action at the expense
of said railway company, and all damages and costs sustained by or which said
Cortland village shall be compelled to pay or does pay for any injuries or
death occasioned by said railway in its construction, maintenance or operation,
to person or property, during the continuance of this franchise, shall be paid
by said railway company to said village of Cortland.
In
approaching, crossing over or going upon any of the bridges within the limits of
the village of Cortland, said railway company shall be limited and shall be subject
to such privileges, conditions and restrictions as the town board of the town
of Cortlandville shall give, require or impose.
The poles
used by said company along the streets above specified shall be of uniform
height except as to poles which are also used for electric light wires, six
inches in diameter at the top and eight inches in diameter at the bottom as may
be. Said poles shall be straight and shall be set inside and next to the curb
line, and shall be kept so, and so far as practicable, shall be set upon the
division lines between lots, and shall be wedge shape or pointed at the top, and
the bark shall be peeled from them and they shall be properly painted, and the village
shall at all times have the right to use any and all poles free of charge for police
and the fire alarm wires and the fire alarm boxes.
Said
company shall furnish transfers upon the different lines in the village, so
that one fare only shall be charged and collected for a ride from any part of
the village to another place in the village under such restrictions as shall be
deemed by it proper.
All ties
not to be less than 6 1/2 feet long, and not further apart than three feet from
center to center. All stringers to be from five inches by seven inches, and
both stringers and ties to be of a lasting quality not less than of first class
white oak.
The
minimum height of the trolley wire shall be eighteen (18) feet above the rails,
and the said wire shall be safely secured by lateral connections to the poles.
If said
railway company shall cease to opera! a said railway and shall neglect to keep
its cars running on said lines in good faith continuously, then this franchise
shall cease and terminate and be forfeited, and the same shall revert to the
village of Cortland.
This
franchise is therefore granted to the Cortland & Homer Horse R. R. company,
its successors, assigns, upon the requirements, restrictions and conditions
above specified, and upon the express condition that the provisions of Article
4, chapter 565 of the laws of 1890, and the acts amendatory and pertinent
thereto, shall be complied with.
THE TOWN
BOARD FRANCHISE.
The town
board met Monday afternoon and granted a franchise which is substantially like
the above with these exceptions: The proposed electric road shall be laid on
the south side of the highway between this village and McGrawville going around
the hill instead of over it. In place where the road is not wide enough to
allow teams to meet and pass easily it is to be widened at the expense of the
railroad At the entrance to private property, plank guards are to be placed on
the outside of the rails and the inside is to be properly filled in. Except
between the villages the rails are not to be more than one inch above grade,
between the villages not more than three inches. The track is to be laid on the
south side of Pt. Watson bridge and in the center of all other bridges and the
rails are to be such as will be approved by the highway commissioners.
The
railroad cannot claim damages by reason of the carrying away of any bridge by
high water or the impeding of travel by repairing or rebuilding bridges. The
company is to pay half the expense of replanking bridges and in case it becomes
necessary to rebuild Pt. Watson bridge they are to pay one-half the expense if
they desire to use it thereafter. All bridges in the town sought to be used by
the company must be carefully examined by an engineer, who shall report as to
whether the same would be safe after placing the extra weight of the track
thereon. In all other respects the franchise granted is substantially the same
as the one granted by the village.
Fire Alarm System.
The
following is a corrected list of all the fire alarm stations in Cortland with the
names of the several parties holding keys to each box:
123—At
Cortland Manufacturing Co. Limited shops. Key at their office.
124—Corner
Union and Owego-sts. Keys at Lewis Bouton's, Mrs. Fayette Reynold's, Arthur
Haight's.
125—Corner
Tompkins and Duane. Keys, Ira Hatfield, Thos. Lynch, Peter Conine.
132—Corner
James and Prospect. Keys, W. H. Clark, I. H. Palmer.
133—Corner
South Main and Argyle. Keys, O. V. Eldridge, Mrs. L. D. Vunk.
134—Corner
Tompkins and Owego. Keys, Daniel E. Smith, G. W. Bradford.
142—Corner
Union and South Main. Keys, F. O. Hyatt, Mrs. S. Cornwell, Arlington House.
143—Corner
Wickwire Bros.' wire works. Keys, Wickwire Bros.' office.
213—Corner
Homer and Goton-avs. Keys, Joseph T. Bates, Jerome Squires, I. H. Holcomb.
214—Extension
Lincoln-ave., near bridge. Keys, John Seaman, E. M. Pudney, Jno. J. Loring.
215—Corner
Suggett and Homer aves. Keys, A. W. Ranney, F. Gallop.
223—Corner Homer-ave. and No. Main. Keys, R. M. Weld, B. Richardson,
Alex. Coon.
224—Corner
No. Main and Grant. Keys, C. O. Smith, Eugene Powers.
232—Corner
Main and Maple-ave. John Garrity, Rev. J. J. McLoghlin, Mrs. N. H. Haynes, J. H. Spaulding.
233—Corner
Groton-ave. and Woodruff-st. Keys, R. A. Smith, E. W. Bates.
312—Corner Clinton and Washington-sts. Keys, Geo. Kenfield, D. C. Bliss,
Steam Laundry.
313—Corner
Clinton and Hubbard. Keys, G. L. Williams, R. B. Fletcher, J. D. Doran.
314—Corner
Elm and Pomeroy. Keys, Wm. Nash, Mrs. E. Freeman, Tobias Robrash.
321—Corner
Grant and Railroad-ave. Keys, Martin Edgcomb, W. B. Knapp, J. E. Perry.
323—Excelsior
Top Shop. Keys, Excelsior Top Shop.
324—Corner
Elm and Pendleton. Hitchcock Mfg. Co.'s office, F. J. Hitt, Mrs. S. Earle, Hugh Corcoran.
331—Corner
Church and Clinton. Dr. E. B. Nash, J. B. Hamilton Johnston.
332—D. L.
& W. Depot. Keys,
St. Charles Hotel, D. L. & W. Depot, Howard & Co., Beef Company.
333—Engine
House Main-st. Keys, Belfry of Engine House.
412—Corner
Greenbush and East Court-st. Keys, H. M. Kellogg, D. C. Dickinson, C. C. Darby,
C. H. V. Elliot.
413—Corner
of Pt. Watson and Pomeroy. Keys, Frank Place, A. L. Spohn, J. L. Conrad.
414—Corner
Pt. Watson and Pendleton. Keys, D. H. Brown, A. F. Aird, G. T. Maxson.
422—Whitney
Wagon Company Shops, Keys at the office of the company.
432—Corner
Pt. Watson and So. Main. Keys, Messenger House, Theo. Evarts.
434—Corner
Church and Railroad. Keys, Commercial Hotel, Mrs. D. C. Cloves,
D. Reilly's Meat Market, Emerald Hose Room.
Always
send in an alarm from box nearest to building on fire. Do not run to Engine
House to give an alarm unless fire is on Main-st. Cut this out and paste it in your
hat.
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