Pelham-Related Trolley Franchises Granted in 1897

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The following article describes Pelham-related trolly franchises addressed in 1897.  It is transcribed in full, followed by a citation to its source.

"PELHAM PARK FRANCHISES
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They Are Granted by the Board of Aldermen After a Sharp Discussion.
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TAMMANY MEMBERS TWITTED
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It Is Concluded Not to Wait for a Decision in the King's Bridge Road Case -- A Possible Union with the 'Huckleberry.'

The Board of Aldernen, at its regular meeting yesterday afternoon, granted with only three dissenting votes, franchises to the Pelham Park Railway Company, which operates a horse car line from Bartow to City Island, to build two branches of its road, one to Westchester Village and the other in the direction of New Rochelle as far as the city line.

A public hearing on the matter had been held on Monday afternoon, and at that time the sentiment of the Railroad Committee seemed to be in favor of deferring all action on any street railway matters until a decision was given in the King's Road Bridge case, which is before the courts.  But when the time came for the committee to report, it was a favorable one, signed by four of the members.

A proviso is made in the resolutions that the franchises shall be sold at public auction, according to law, and that not more than 5 cents shall be charged any passenger for a continuous ride on the roads of the company.  Another proviso is to the effect that the company shall pave and keep in repair the surface between the tracks, and shall keep this part of the pavement and for two feet beyond the rail on either side, clean and free from dirt or snow.  The third proviso is as follows:

That at the end of twenty-five years the said company, after a re-valuation, shall have the privilege of acquiring the same rights by paying the additional valuation, or that in case the city or some other corporation shall procure the same, then the Pelham Park Railroad Company shall be reimbursed the amount of the cost of building said railroad." 

Source:  Pelham Park Franchises, N.Y. Times,  Dec. 1, 1897, p. 12.

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