The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-12-15
VALUABLE FRANCHISES.
Why Should Not Westminster Re-
ceive Compensation For Use of
It's Streets.

MeSSrS. Edit0TS OF We DeHtOcFutN duOOcue.
The CITY of Westminster-lhe various
Mayors and Common Councils-like those of
all other growing and energetic towns, have
been permitting the use of the streets by local
enterprises without asking any compensation
therefor So heartily have our people hailed
the advent of new enterprises, that every en-
couragement has been extended, and no
thought of the value of the franchises granted
was ever maintained. 1t is time, now, to look
into this matter So gladly did the people of
MARYLAND hail the thought of having rail
road, that the General Assembly granted
charter to the Baltimore Il Ohio Railroad
Company, exempting the road from taxation.
They. with some excuse therefor, as railroads
were an experiment, did not foresee the great
growth and expansion of railroads. In later
years, however, the people have observed this
corporation with many millions OF property
untaxed, thus putting at disadvantage com
netting and other railroads, grow arrogant,
overbearing and medding in politics, endeav-
oring to control the state government and
coercing its employees to vote as Its managers
have dictated. They have seen it gobble up
competing transportation line, the Chesapeake
a. Ohio Canal. and destroy its usefulness as
competing concern, and make uncertain the
investment of the state in its construction.
Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York, en-
amoredofprogress and enterprise, allowed their
its streets TO be marred by unsighlly telegraph,
telenhone and electric light poles, and it has
been long and serious fight TO get rid of
them, and the contest is not yet ended. The
CORPORATIONS, untaxed as they should have
been, have used the means thus saved to en-
ter upon expensive and tedious litigation,
causing long delays, in orde r to escape put
ting their wires under ground. A community
of interests has welded these corporations into
a solid organization against these cities. Not
only are their poles and wires unsightly, but
they are dangerous to the people and fire.
quently hinder the prompt suppression of
fires.
The writer of this has for several years
thought that Westminster has been hasty in
allowing the planting of poles and stringing of
wires, and in not charging for the use of its
streets, and he now comes to the subject in
the hope of directing public attention to the
matter. The Westminster Gas Light Com
pany has its pipes on one side of Main street
and the Westminster Water Company on the
other, and the Citizens Water and Power
Company, it is said, propose to use the mid
die of the street. Westminster spent $4,000
at one time, mostly on Main street, to improve
its highways, and about two or three years
ago expended considerable sum more. For
this reason "A very guarded and complete con
tract should be exacted from the new Water
Company by the Mayor and Council, provid-
ing that the company shall restore the streets
to as good condition as they found them.
Unless this is done, there viii be an unsightly
mound in the middle of the streets, with per-
haps loose stones and earth on top of the
macadam work, and to repair the work will
1. Al. =.
New water works for the city are not need
ed. and the gentlemen engaged in promoting
and pushing along the work are msdirecting
their energies. The money they propose 10
put in this work, if expended in fields of en-
terprise not now covered, would not only
benefit the city, but would have better prom
Use of a return for the investment Still the
new company have different idea upon the
subject, and every man of them invests with
the expectation of fair dividend. This be-
ing true they should be made TO pay for the
use of the streets a fair annual rental, and so
should the gas company, the water company
and the telephone and electric light compan-
les. A tax of fifty cents n year ON each pole
of the last three companies IS not too much.
1t is true they are convenience and advant
age, but the stockholders all invested with the
expectation of fair dividends, and the city
should demand something in return for the
right of way. If the Mayor and Council
would tax all of these companies, fairly and
equitably, considerable sum would be real
lied, and the city needs all of the funds it can
raise.
To return to the subject of digging up the
streets by the new water company As WIN
ter is upon us, it is not likely the work will be
commenced before spring, and there is ample
time to place proper safeguards around a
contract by the city with the company on the
matter. 1t is bad Judgment, in the first place
for the company to undertake to occupy the
middle of the street. In most places the stone
is from two to three feet thick, making the
work far more expensive than necessary.
Then to do this, there will be but small space
on either side for travel, and by the time hs
pipes are laid the sides would be badly worn
and the stone curbing on the outside of the
cutters be disarranged and injured. The
Mayor and Council should consider whether
or not the new company should not be re
quired to occupy one Of the sides of the street
At all events there can be no question abou
the city being entitled to compensation for the
use of streets by the water, gas, electric ligh
and telephone companies. If only hundred
dollars be realized this would be sufficient Il
pay interest on $500 Of the city's bonded in
debtedness. STOCKHOLDERS
in Gas, Electric Light and Telephone Com
panies.