The record-union., 1892-09-26
ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.
The People Want the Two Complete
Systems.
There Are Plenty of Streets for Both
to Occupy and Make
Money.

Since the application of the Folsom
Water Power Company was filed with
the Trustees, asking for a franchise to
put in an electric railway system in this
city, the people have discussed the stu
alton quite extensively, and it seems to
be the general opinion that the more
street railways we can get the better.
With very few exceptions they welcome
the advent of the Folsom Water Power
Company and atthe same time favor grant
ing the charter to the Central Electric
Company for the completion ofits system
by the construction of line on q and
Seventh streets, which will enable them to
reach any part of the city for the payment
OF one fare of five cents.
a few are found who say that if the G.
street franchise is granted TO the Central
Company the Folsom Water Power Com
pany viii not accept the franchise it asks
for on Z, / and n streets. To take this
view of the case is simply to attribute
bad faith to the latter company, which is
entirely unwarranted so far as any pub
lie expression from it Is concerned.
If it is urged that it would
not want the franchise if the Central
Company gets the G-street franchise, be-
cause that line would run only one block
from its line on K street, that proposition
is answered by the fact that it is asking
tor franchise 10 run lines on / and n
streets, both of which parallel the old
company'S lines only one block away.
The fact that the Folsom Company has
asked for these streets indicates that it
does not fear the competition OF the old
line, and this is understood to be because
it claims that it can bring electric power
from Folsom for the operation of its lines
for very much less than the Central Com
pany pays for its power. and can there
fore operate its road much more economi-
cally.
There is but one opinion as to the great
benefit to accrue to this city by the intro
duction Of electric power from the great
Folsom dam. This, however, is no new
subject. On the 2lst OF last May the REC
ORD-UNIoN published an illustrated arti-
Gle, occupying full page, IN which all
these advantages were set forth at length
from data furnished by the Folsom
Water Power Company. 1t may be
taken for granted that every citizen Of
Sacramento will welcome the intro
direction of its electric power. But this
IS no reason why the Trustees should re-
fuse to grant the G-street franchise, which
Will complete the Central system and
give its patrons the accommodation they
desire. The people on the north side Of
the city want road in operation this
winter. They have managed to get along
very well without one during the sum-
mer, but when the rainy season sets in
they will want street-car accommoda-
tions.
After the G-street franchise is granted
to the Central Company the franchise
asked for by the Folsom Water Power
Company can be taken up and with some
little changes of route, which will be
fully as advantageous as the one asked
for, it can be granted, and the citv will
have two complete and competing lines,
which will give Sacramento better street
railway facilities than any city on the
coast This matter should not be de-
cided on the basis of advantage to one
company over another, but the question
for the Trustees to determine is, 'What
is best for the city," 1t can be answered
in but one way. Let US have two COM
plete competing systems. There is room
enough for all.