El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1898-10-27

Is particularly striking. psrtly because
the fact IL states is 80 often overlooked.
Says he:
IL we were trustees or guardians for
minor heirs that were not able to pro-
tect themselves. we would not dare to
lavishly squander the estate that was
under our control; therefore, as trust
ees of the peoples heritage, We should
remem Der, that in the graoting OF pub
lie franchises running for q long period
of time, In most cases from twenty TO
fifty years, we are not merely actin
for the imme d ate present, but in many
cases we are mortgsRing the estate OF
our children's children.
Let 1t be understood plainly that we
believe the city council should throw
out every possible iDducement to CAPT.
tai to come and invest here. The
c ouncil should leave no stone unturned
to secure public improvements, and to
secure to invested capital every posi-
BILE advantage until the enterprises
are firmly established and Day ing good
divider de. Then the city, q principal
partner, should receive rental for the
use of its assets.
90 another page we print statements
from several leading citizens in regard
to the HERALD'S proposition than an
effort be made to secure to the city q
revenue from the use OF the franchise
that 1t Is about to grant, after the en-
terprise shall have reached such q
stage that Its net earnings pay GER
tain fair profit on the investment. We
did not discuss details, but simply stat
ed the sugges Gion in outline.
We are forced to take issue with a
number of those interviewed. Mr.
McCutcheon's view is ours exactly.
We would not for an instant let our
plan prevent the construction of the
railway system. But we do think it
would pay to try it.
Mr.. Dillon begs the question. No
one will deny that the road will great
ly benefit the town. No one will deny
that for a number of years the town
will receive more actual benefit than
the road. We would be the last to
su geest that the city should seek to
reduce the just returns from
the Investment. But we all
believe the city will grow might
|ly, and we all believe that
q railroad franchise in this town, in
Guiding the lighting and power privi-
leges, will increase in value with the
town, and to far larger degree, be-
cause the franchise. being so wide in
it's scope and for so long q term, will
be in Its very nature an exclusive
one. Competition might almost be
counted out of the question. 1t would
be to all intents and purposes one Of
the natural mopopolies," and for
these we have no enmity, but only q
feeling that they ought to contribute
something to their real owpers-the
people-who have leased them out &c
others for operative purposes. With
Mr.. billions view concerning the old
company, we agree, with one stipuls'
ton: The city must be able
to dictate how the cars shall
be run, what constitutes suit
able public service, aud wha'
fare shall be charged. The services
OF the old line has been notoriously
disgraceful, and If the owners say
"Well, we have been losing money al
the time; how can we increase our ex
penses to better the service?" the PEG
pie can say, "If you had bettered you
service your receipts would have in
creased" There are two sides to 1t
We would prefer to have home cap
tai build and operate the new line.
Judge Edwards thinks we are build
ing the new line In advance Of our rea
need. 1t is hard to see how that cal
be 80. This city, OF twenty Thousand
people, Is far, very far behind mos
eastern towns of its sizs in the matte
of transportation, and 1t must not b
forgotten that e. Paso is the larges
city for six hundred miles around
How are We in sdvanc
OF our needsp Does anyone believe
that the new line will not Immediate
ly receive an extensive patronage
from every part of the city, from tn
post, from Juarez, that has been with
held from the old line on account of it
wretched service. and that has bee
compelled to seek other means c
transportation because there was n
car line in the main part of the city
To US it looks as If the business
there, waiting to be provided for.
Thomas O'Keeffe says the frar
chise will be in force ''only fit
yaarsp Fifty vearsi What NAV ou
city be by that time? Are we all tall
ing through our hats when we speak {
a possible fifty or hundred thousan
people here in fifty years?
, Mr.. Courchesne states our own view
OF course the road could not pay au