Morris tribune., 1891-06-24
Water Works and Electric
Lights.

LlSnlS.
The question of franchise to Messrs.
Good, Wintermute and Mccarthy for
the exclusive right to supply the vii
lage with system of water works and
electric lights has for some time been
before the village council.
There is no doubt but that we have
arrived at that stage of existence as
corporate body to justify a careful and
iudiciaus consideration of this matter.
We have no doubt that the present
council is fully capable of finally de-
terlnining this question, and while 1t
is one which deserves mature dehber-
alton, there is such thing as making
a grievous mistake by delaying a pro-
ject of this nature too far.
If franchise is to be granted to
any person or persons, we certainly
say by all means give to individuals
of our own town the benefit of what
there is in it, provided they can and
will offer as good a system at as rea-
sonable rates as others.
To say that hevillage is in a condl-
ton to bond itself for the purpose of
establishing and maintaining water
works and electric lights is in the ex-
treme chimerical, especially when we
can obtain equally as good a system
without any outlay whatever; and II
respective of the question of finances
we regard it as poor policy for the vii
lage to undertake the task through its
representative authorities Of establish
ing and maintaining such systems, for
the reason there would at each spring
election be more anxiety to control the
patronage, or rather positions nnder
the sTstems, than there would be III
electing persons who have the best in
terest of our village at stake.
The time for which franchise should
be granted is one of very slight i'm
portance, provided the franchise itself
embodies the wish of the people, for
on this and this alone depends the ex-
istence of any rights which the per-
sons to whom it is granted may have
or retain. 1t is simply an argument
between the conncil on behalf of the
people and the individuals to whom it
is granted.
1t is not reasonable presume that
any person or persons would agree or
enter into contract with our village
to furnish supply of water or light
for limited number of years, and
render franchise, the terms of which
are such as to leave the continuation
of their rights to the caprice of coun-
Gil elected every spring. The invest
ment of an amount sufficient to put
in operation such a system means the
circulation in our midst Of considera-
BILE capital to pay home labor. 1t is
an investment which for years will not
pay, and for this reason liberal time
should be given. We are not informed
as to whether these gentlemen who
mare appned Tor this franchise intend
to create corporation or invest their
own means in this adventure, and in
fact we do not know that this should
influence the council in their delber
atoms. The only question for them
to consider is "Win it pay the village
to give exclusive right to these gentle
men for a number of years to control
the system? If SO, what number of
years is just and right?"
The TRIBUNE has repeatedly advo-
Gated the adoption Of some means by
which our village could be supplied
with pure and wholesome water, and
now as those who have taken hold of
this matter are men who are fully ca
pable of pushing it to final compile
ton, we think that the council should
do everything in its power to assist
them. Of course we don't believe in
giving the whole village, but we do
think that we express the sentiment of
the taxpayers when we say that the
council should give them a liberal
franchise.