The record-union., 1892-10-01
STREET RAILWAY FRANCHISES.
The People at Last Understand the
Situation.
Competition Is Wanted-How Tt Can
Be Secured With Justice to
All Parties.

The subject of street railway franchises
has received considerable attention DUR
ing the week, but it is getting TO be a
chestnut" On Monday the matter was
badly mixed up by the sudden with
drawal of the application of the Folsom
Water Power Company for road on III
and streets, and the substitution there
for of an application by Albert Gallatin
and 81. p. Livermore for a road on G.
street, for which the Central Company
had applied several weeks before.
There was decidedly powerful public
sentiment in favor of the original appli
cation of the Folsom Water Power Com
pany, and citizens promptly signed its
petition, because they saw that it meant
a competing line, and everybody favors
legitimate competition. But when that
proposition was withdrawn and MessrS.
Gallatin and Livermore asked for fran
chise which meant the very opposite of
competition there was decided revolu-
ton of feeling, and the very people who
signed the.petition of the Folsom Com
pany now favor granting the G-street
franchise TO the Central Electric Com
pany.
Notwithstanding the fact that the Fol-
som Water Power COmpany'S applica-
ton was Withdrawn, the petition was
boldly presented to the Board of Trustees
in support of the Gallatin- Livermore ap-
plication for an entirely different system,
and then the Trustees were abused and
condemned for not paying any attention
to 1t. The merchants and citizens whose
names were on the petition were naturally
highly indignant at the unwarranted use
OF their names, and while they have not
seen fit to rush into print about 1t, very
many of them have taken occasion to call
on the Trustees and assure them that while
they would favor giving the Folsom Water
Power Company u franchise including ID
and + streets, they are in favor OF the
granting OF q street to the Central Com
pany. Many of these same citizens have
warmly commended the Trustees for do
ing their duty as they did and not being
deceived by the trick which had escaped
the attention of so many others.
The fact is, as every man with an
ounce of brains can see, that there can be
no competition on the north side of the
city unless both companies are given the
use of streets there. They cannot both
have the same street, 50 that the only
solution of the question is to let the Cen
trail Company have @ street, which has
been given it by the Trustees, and give
Messrs. Gallatin and Livermore II or f,
or both if they desire it. This makes
competition and breaks up monopoly. 1t
would suit the people If it did not suit the
Central Company. Probably that COM
pany would prefer not to have another
line, but the Trustees must look out for
the interests of the city first and secure a
competing line if possible. But they
would be committing a gross outrage if
they refused to give the Central Company
franchise on @ street, and permitted
Messrs. Gallatin and Livermore to mo-
nopolize the whole north side of the city.
Let them be just and honest and stand
by their action of last Monday, and while
they will be condemned and abused by a
few interested parties, who are very
noisy, they will receive the hearty COM
mendation of those who have the interests
of the city at heart.