The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-12-01
THE BUSINESS ASPECT OF 1T.

granted private individuals or corpora
tions by government or municipality.
The city OF Providence, in comparison
with other cities, has been slow in confer
ring franchises and very slack in liking
the compensation charged for them.
Many other cities have remitted taxation
for a term Of years, granted free water,
donated public land and given railroads
access through and across highways TO
secure the location within their limits OF
new industries employing large numbers
of laborers, thus increasing their popula-
ton, the taxable value Of property and the
business of the community. Many city
has given large sum of money to become
"A capital or county seat or To secure new
industry.
The city of Providence has habit OF ar
guing to death, any and every project that
wide awake cities gladly welcome, to Sc
cure new industries or to improve their
facilities of transportation. We have Tor
twenty years haggled over and prevented
the acceptance Of any proposition to Sc
cure decent terminal facilities that was
reasonable enough to secure the consent
of the railroad companies whose money
must be largely used in the work.
The only franchises we have given have
been the use OF the highways for car rails,
gas pipes and wires, to secure improved
transportation and facilities for commun-
ication and public lighting Except as re-
CARDS the railroads we have made no
change for such use Of the highways, hav-
ing taken our consideration in satisfac-
tory service. From the street railway we
have received a moderate sum, the amount
of which has of late years been bone OF
oh ha 1at ia "A
gratuity from the street railway company,
unless the city makes definite contract
ia regard thereto.
Many citizens believe that the time has
come when we should establish an equita-
BILE rate of compensation for all the fran
chooses granted, rs well with the gas, tele-
phone and electric lighting companies as
with the street railway company. The
question Is simply that of business-like
statement of the privileges conferred and
conditions demanded.
The parties to the agreement are the
four corporations and the city, and
meeting Of the minds of these parties"
must occur before an agreement and con-
tract can be made, and due consideration
and value must be granted to and by each
of the contracting parties.
fear that the city will be overreached in
the matter we have never yet made
bargain where we granted too much con-
sideration Heretofore we have rather
hobbled along In country village style and
gone without necessary facilities rather
than allow concessions other cities have
willingly proffered Weneed not tear but
that the city Of Providence will be quite
conservative enough We have been so
slow as TO allow some valuable privileges
without getting any compensation for
them except the service rendered by the
corporations, which after all is by far the
greater part of any compensation the city
could receive.
Let no one for an instant think that the
corporations have no rights and that the
city could seize the property their money
has paid for and turn its use away from
its owners. Even IL such course was
legal-even If upon due provocation the
state should sanction it--in the absence
of any such cause, such course would
be so manifestly unfair and contemplate,
so demoralizing to business methods that
no fair minded citizen would for moment
consider it,
We have excellent service now and our
citizens have no desire TO see our streets
torn UP and new poles and wires placed by
other parties, il proper arrangements can
be made with existing companies. IL is
not probable that our citizens desire
double telephone service, nor the entrance
of an additional gas company TO disturb
our streets, nor multiplicity of manage
ment Of our electric wires, nor inferior
street car service where we now have the
best horse car service known.
It il not probable that a large manufac-
turing company would locate in our city
and expend a large sum in buildings and
equipments. on account of concessions,
say OF remission of taxation and cheap
water. unless these concessions were
granted for certain and reasonable term
of wears No citizen or committee would
hope TO succeed i'm locating such a manu-
factory ia our city If they had no assur-
ances To offer that the promised conces-
sions would be given but for one year
Ten years Is the usual time for such agree
ments.
There Is no proposition before our
people for the granting OF any additional
franchise TO those already enjoyed by the
corporations we desire To contract with
They already occupy our streets for their
purposes-have for n long time occupied
them-and i'm the absence OF any contract
will undoubtedly continue To so occupy
them, and probably without giving any
money consideration TO the city for such
use.
What we desire TO settle by contract Is
CD the amount Of money they should
fairly pay the city, CD the amount OF
profits the CITY will allow them TO make
before any excess shall go To reduce the
price Of servico-the highest dividend yet
mentioned il per cent. per annum-(0
certain provisions compelling the use Of