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The mayor and council shall by ordinance require, under proper penalties, any railroad company, whether steam or electric, to elevate or lower any of its tracks running over, along or across any of the streets, avenues or alleys of the city, whenever in the opinion of the mayor and council the public safety or convenience requires.
The grant of every franchise or privilege shall be subject to the right of the city, whether in terms reserved or not, to make all regulations which shall be necessary to secure, in the most ample manner, the safety, welfare and accommodation of the public, including, among other things, the right to pass and enforce ordinances to require proper and adequate extensions of the service of such grant, and to protect the public from danger or inconvenience in the operation of any work or business authorized by the grant of the franchise, and the right to make and enforce all such regulations as shall be reasonably necessary to secure adequate, sufficient and proper service, extensions and accommodations for the people, and insure their comfort and convenience.
No franchise granted by the city shall ever be leased, assigned or otherwise alienated without the express consent of the city, and no dealing with the lessee or his assigns, on the part of the city, to require the performance of any act, or payment of any compensation, by the lessee or his assigns shall be deemed to operate as such consent.
No extension or enlargement of any franchise, or grant, or rights, or powers, previously granted to any corporation, person or association of persons, shall be made except in the manner, and subject to all the conditions herein provided in this chapter for the making of original grants and franchises; provided, however, that the provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the granting by ordinance of revocable licenses or privileges for side track or switch privileges, to railway companies, for the purpose of reaching and affording railway connection and switch privileges to the owners or users of any industrial plant, warehouse or mercantile establishment, it being the intention to permit the city to grant such revocable license or privilege to railway companies whenever, in its judgment, the same is expedient, necessary or advisable, and application for such a privilege is accompanied by the assent, in writing, of the owners of the major part of the frontage of the lots or tracts of land of the blocks fronting on each side of any street, or parts of a street, over or on which it is desired to lay or construct such side tracks or switches.
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