The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-06-28
FRANCHISES.

Salt Lake City has never been mar
row and mean in the matter OF grantiLg
franchises to individuals and COM
panies for public enterprises and I'M
provements. It has readily given the
right of way through the streets to
railway companies charging nothing
for a privilege which in some cities is
sold at a high price. The right to lay
gas mains was conferred without
charge. Nothing was asked from the
Street Railway Company for its
franchise. Telegraph, telephone and
electric light companies have been
given the right to erect poles and string
wires in the streets. In fact, all corners
have been received and treated with
open-handed generosity. One OF these
days other railways, other electric conf
panies, other gas companies, and per-
haps water companies will come and
ask for franchises. At Tuesdays SEES
sion of the City Council two petitions
were read asking for the privilege of
constructing and operating electric
street railways on certain streets of
the city, one of the petitioners being
the company owing the present
line, and the other petitioner being
we'll known citizen, who is understood
to be backed by large capital for the en-
terprise which he proposes to under
take.
These franchises are all valuable, and
are growing more so every lear. They
might have been, and may still be dis
posed of to the advantage of the corpor-
alton; but we are inclined to believe
that the policy heretofore pursued is
the letter enc for the municipality, and
should bs continued. As nothing has
been charged in the past, it would not
be consistent to require payment from
those who come now; and having
granted previous petitions, the Council
cannot we'll deny equal privileges. to
Others, All these improvements help
the city generally. The more railroads
entering the city the better for the
community. The more miles OF street
railway, the more telegraph, telephone,
electric light and gas companies, the
greater will be the benefit derived by
citizens collectively and individually,
The municipality can afford to be gen
erous to these development and |
companies, for by |
giving them much we get |
more in return. Let US welcome all |
and show favoritism to none. The one |
thing to be avoided is the granting of |
exclusive privileges, for in that lies the |
danger Of monopolies and oppression.
If two, or half dozen companies want
to construct and operate street railways,
gas works, or other public institutions.
let them have the privilege, and let the
people have the benefit, not only of the
money which these Improvements cost
for construction and maintenance, but
of the development and competition
which they suggest. We must not be
alarmed by the suggestion of over
building, of OVERRIDING the thing. Capt.
tai is conservative and far-seeing. 1t
will take care of itself. 1t will not put
two railways on street where one
would be unremunerative. 1t will not
build gas works if there is no money to
be made bysselling gas. 1t is not the
Councils business to furnish financial
wisdom, to look out for good invest
ments for individuals, nor to keep cap
italists from spending their money in
enterprises. The Coun-
cil's duty in such matters begins and
ends when it has placed all on an equal
footing, and given each the rights
which his neighbors enjoy.