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61
months later, however, this Council was informed by the County
Council that it appeared to the Council that having regard to the
semi-rural character of the district through which the tramway
would pass the line was one on which an overhead system of
electrical traction might with advantage be adopted, and that if
this course were taken it would be practical to construct the tramway
at a much earlier date than would be the case if an underground
conduit system were employed, and the paving of the new
portion of the carriageway could be expedited ; and this Council
was asked whether it was prepared to give its consent to the use
of overhead traction. At the same time the Council was invited to
appoint representatives to confer with the Highways Committee
of the County Council as to the proposed doubling of the tramways
along Wandsworth Road, Nine Elms Lane, Battersea Park
Road, and York Road and the use of overhead traction for those
tramways. This Council thereupon appointed a deputation consisting
of Aldermen Anderson and Howell, and Councillors Lancaster,
Lidiard, Lorden, and Welton, to confer with the Committee
of the County Council both as to the system of overhead traction
proposed to be used, and as to the period within which the County
Council would undertake to complete the necessary street widenings
and the construction or re-construction of the tramways
referrred to.
93.—The Conference was held in due course and the views of
this Council having been considered by the Committee of the
County Council, that Council stated that the approximate dates at
which it was anticipated that the necessary street widenings might
be effected and vacant possession of the sites given to the Council's
Engineer were as follows: —
(a) In Defoe Road and in Garratt Lane between Tooting High Street
and Earlsfield Station—31st December, 1903.
(b) In Tooting High Street, between the present tramway terminus and
Defoe Road—31st March, 1904.
(c) In Garratt Lane, north of Earlsfield Station and in South Street, and
Red Lion Street—30th June, 1904.
(id) In East Hill and Wandsworth Road, for which Parliamentary
powers cannot be obtained until the Session of 1905—30th June,
1907, at the earliest.