"RESOLVED, that the Chamnan frer av Imsan terey extends a hearty and tordial nation ʼn the American Street Railway Association to hold its Convention for the rear en me cinnati. fa RESOLVED, that the President be, and he s tereny autorted and empowered to appoint delegates to the timing mention, who shall attend the said Convention, entend the nanon of this Company ind. if possible, secure its acceptance. Trusting we may have the pleasure of entertaining the Association during the year 18 and with best wades for the concated success of same, we beg to remain. Gentlemen:-We desire to call your attention to the advantages which our city affords for holding such meetings as yours, and wish to hereby extend a most cordial invitation to your Association to hold your next Convention in this city. We shall be glad to do anything that the occasion calls for to promote your interests. NIAGARA FALLS, N. Y. Gentlemen:-The undersigned, in behalf of the city of Cincinnati, extends to you a cordial invitation to hold your next Convention within its portals. It will not be necessary for me to enumerate to you all the advan tages of our city as a convention city. Her central location, railroad facilities, excellent hotels, and numerous places of amusement are well know to you. I will also say, in behalf of the citizens, that they will *most in their power to make your stay an agreeable and proft seen such motors working experimentally, and they bid fair to give very good results. THE PRESIDENT-If there is no further discussion on this paper, it will take the usual course and be filed and spread upon the minutes. Is there any business of any character whatever, that is proper to come before the Convention, that any member has to present? The meeting is now open for any questions that any member may present. MOTION TO COLLECT STATISTICS RELATING TO MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP OF STREET RAILWAYS. MR. DAVIS, Williamsport-Mr. President, there is one matter I would like to present, and that is the question of obtaining information, principally from abroad, as to the cost-operating expenses and general expenses- of the operation of street railways by municipalities. We have questions of that kind arising continually, and it is almost impossible for any single company to collect the statistics. These statistics would principally consist in securing official documents from abroad. If it is thought that the Executive Committee could, through its Secretary, secure the official documents from abroad, I make a motion that the matter be referred to the incoming Executive Committee for such action as it may see fit to take. THE PRESIDENT- I am unable to state how far Mr. Sullivan went into that question, but I believe it is a fact that Mr. Sullivan made a visit abroad and got all the information obtainable upon this subject; and I have no doubt that correspondence with him wouid secure all that he has at hand. I do not think he presented all of the details in his report. I expect that he is in possession of everything that is obtainable. However, if you wish to make a motion that the Secretary shall enter into this correspondence, the matter can be put before the meeting. MR. DAVIS-I make that motion. The information obtained would be open then to such of the members as desire to make use of it. I make that as a motion, that the Sec retary be requested to secure information relative to the working of municipal street railway plants. Motion seconded. THE PRESIDENT It is moved that the Secretary be instructed to procure all possible information in regard to the cost, operating expenses and services rendered, of such street railways as are controlled by municipalities in foreign countries. MR. DAVIS-Before the question is put I would call attention to this point. The municipal ownership question is assuming two phases-one, the ownership and operation by municipalities; and the other, the leasing of roads owned by municipalities to private companies, under certain restrictions. The latter is probably the form that the question will assume in the United States. Abroad, the municipal control and operation is the more usual form. I would suggest that the inquiry be two-fold-first, where the municipality directly controls and operates the railway; and second, where the plant is owned by the municipality and leased out and operated by private enterprise. MR. KERPER, Dayton-I believe that Mr. Sullivan goes into details on both these points in his report. THE PRESIDENT-Any gentleman who wishes details on this question can obtain them by corresponding with Mr. John Young, General Manager of the Glasgow roads. He will be glad to answer personally, and provide any information that may be asked. He has it in printed form. MR. BEAN-A motion was made yesterday by Mr. Littell that this matter be referred to the incoming Executive Committee. I have not had any conversation with Mr. Littell, as to whether he desired to side-track the subject, or desired the Executive Committee to go into details. It is immaterial to me. If Mr. Davis will apply to the future Executive Committee, he can get more information than from Mr. John Young. I trust that he will follow it up. We are not all situated as they are in the State of New York, where franchises run 999 years. Out our way we have them for thirty years and fifty years. The motion of Mr. Davis was put and carried. APPOINTMENT OF THE COMMITTEE TO NOMINATE OFFICERS AND SELECT THE PLACE FOR THE NEXT MEETING. THE PRESIDENT-The next business is the appointment of the Committee to nominate officers and select the place. for the next meeting. You will bear in mind that this Committee simply makes recommendations. If the Convention at large does not wish to accept these recommendations, they can be voted down, and other nominees substituted, or another place of meeting selected. The Committee will consist of HENRY M. WATSON, Buffalo, N. Y., Chairman; ERNEST WOODRUFF, Atlanta, Ga.; E. S. GOODRICH, Hartford, Conn. I would suggest that these gentlemen get together as soon as we have adjourned, and make their arrangements for a meeting, in order that they may report to-morrow. If there are present representatives of localities which desire the meeting to be held in their city next year, we will now give an opportunity for five minute speeches by those who wish to talk upon the subject. INVITATION TO MEET IN CINCINNATI IN 1898. MR. DAVIS, Cincinnati-Mr. President and gentlemen of the Association: The city of Cincinnati desires you to hold your next meeting in that city. I have here some invitations to that effect, which I shall ask the Secretary to read. THE SECRETARY read the following invitations: THE CINCINNATI STREET RAILWAY COMPANY, THE AMERICAN STREET RAILWAY ASSOCIATION, NIAGARA FALLS, N. Y. Gentlemen:-It affords me pleasure to extend to you the invitation, as foreshadowed in the resolutions hereto attached, which were adopted unanimously, at the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Cincinnati Street Railway Company, held September 7th, 1897: “RESOLVED, that the Cincinnati Street Railway Company hereby extends a hearty and cordial invitation to the American Street Railway Association to hold its Convention for the year 1898 in the city of Cincinnati. RESOLVED, that the President be, and he is hereby authorized and empowered to appoint delegates to the coming Convention, who shall attend the said Convention, extend the invitation of this Company, and, if possible, secure its acceptance." Trusting we may have the pleasure of entertaining the Association during the year 1898, and with best wishes for the continued success of same, we beg to remain, Very respectfully, JAS. A. COLLINS, Secy, and Asst. Gen. Mgr. CINCINNATI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CINCINNATI, October 16, 1897. THE AMERICAN STREET RAILWAY ASSOCIATION, NIAGARA FALLS, N. Y. Gentlemen:-We desire to call your attention to the advantages which our city affords for holding such meetings as yours, and wish to hereby extend a most cordial invitation to your Association to hold your next Convention in this city. We shall be glad to do anything that the occasion calls for to promote your interests. Gentlemen:-The undersigned, in behalf of the city of Cincinnati, extends to you a cordial invitation to hold your next Convention within its portals. It will not be necessary for me to enumerate to you all the advantages of our city as a convention city. Her central location, railroad facilities, excellent hotels, and numerous places of amusement are well known to you. I will also say, in behalf of the citizens, that they will do the utmost in their power to make your stay an agreeable and profitable one. Very respectfully, GUSTAV TAFEL, Mayor of Cincinnati. |