Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1892-05-06

SouAcSIluS uot ONly Uuo u1ucTenU pdTLS
of the city, but also running from Hot
Springs to Cascade and probably to
Wind Cave. The advantages to be de-
rived from such improvements would
be great. The business men all over
the city were enthusiastically in favor
of the project. But one man, through
a blind obstinacy, has probably succeed
ed in defeating the measure. Hot
Springs cal never become the pleasure
resort which it is by nature fitted to be
until there r cheap and convenient
means for reaching the many attract
i've places Ivy which we are surrounded.
MIR. Evans, kind hearted, loving phil
%anthropist, was afraid that the s~oulless
corporation represented by Mr.. Len
hart was conspiring to rob the city be.
cause the company proposed to expend
here several hundred thousand dollars
in making improvements; he also was
fearful lest some transporting capt.
alists' might get hold of the bonds
and find that they were nothing but
thin blown air-empty air." Such kind
and benevolent intercession in behalf
of "unsuspecting capitalists certainly
merits a crown The franchise would
have been granted only upon condition
that the lines were put in operation
within a specified time and if the com.
pany did not fulfil its part of the con-
ditlons the franchise would again re.
vert to the city or to Mr.. Evans as the
case might be. The matter of furnish
ing good service is an equally himsy
attempt to furnish an excuse for thus
deterring Improvements in the city.
Everybody knows that the motor COM
pany proposed to engage in this enter
prise for the sole purpose of making
profits on the amount of capital invest
ed. The larger the profits the better 1T
would be for the company. The better
service the larger would be the profits.
No sane person can for a moment be
duped by any such fabrications as the
Herald manufactured for the purpose
of defending MIR. Evans. The company
was acting in good faith all the time,
and even if it was not it might be in
teresting for those who think so to ex-
plain how the city could possibly be
defrauded or injured in any possible
manner. Another consideration which
Mr.. Evans demanded in return for
granting the right of way through his
property, was that the objections to
the water works franchise be removed.
There a be no doubt that; the best
interests of Hot Springs demands a
system of water works, BUT there was
no need of making the construction of
a motor line dependent upon a water
works franchise that also appears to!
have been selishly opposed. So far as
the STAR can see into this matter, when
MIR. Evans refused the right of way
over his premises, he attempted to de-
feat an enterprise that is desired by
nearly every resident of the city, and
something that would unquestionably
be of immense benefit to our business
men. He could not f%oretell what the
motor would OF would not do; yet if
they did not comply with their fran.
chise in every respect, wherein would
Mr.. Evans have been harmed or the
fair name of the city have been inn
paired? The motor line company was
not so much of a fraud" as to deter Mr..
Evans from asking why they did not
give him a chance to join them IN the
enterprise, and good authority states
that the reason Mr.. Evans declined to
grant right of way through his streets
was because he wasn't a large portion of
the company. This probably is where
the shoe pinched. and if the secret was
known is why the motor line was re-
fused admission TO the northern portion
Of the city.
The STAR is for public improvements,
first, last and always. No place can
become a resort unless it has public
improvements that go to make a city
attractive and healthy. In order to Sc.
cure such Improvements as are neces-
sary in this direction outside capital
must become interested. No city has
attained any proportions in late years
without the accession of outside capital.
Now it makes no difference to the
people-those who are unselfishly in
terested in the growth and improve
ment of the city-who is instrumental
in securing and bringing capital to
Hot Springs. Any one who does this
is a public benefactor. No reasonable
mind will question this for a moment,
and whoever attempts to block Or ham
per the incoming Of outside capital is
positively an enemy to the best inter-
ests of the city.
While the STAR prefers to see the
city own and control its franchises,
yet when it is impossible under exist
ing circumstances to do so, and when
public necessity demands a thing, no
man or set of men should be upheld in
defeating the measure, whether it be
for motor lines, water works, gas or
electric light. Because a person may
be clothed with authority, either as the
result of good fnanciering or by the
favor of the people, 1t is not his prov
ince to override popular demands.
The great seal of the state of South
Dakota reads "Under God the People
Rule, and "by the Eternal" they WILL
rule.
Ill., C.l,A xl,.& H.