The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-07-05
THE STREET RAILWAY PROBLEM.

THE STREET RAILWAY PROBLEM.
That there is something attractive
ABOUT the idea of giving Savannah en-
larged street railway accommodations is
evidenced in the number of applications
that have recently been made for fran
chises. Capital is VIGOROUSLY timid and
cautious. Unless the capitalists had
made careful Investigations and seen
their way clear to profitable investments
of their money in Savannah street rail-
way property, it is hardly likely that
they would be so eager to obtain fran
chses for the construction of railways
on the city's streets. To build and equip
modern urban railway requires con-
siderable outlay of money; and such an
enterprise is one that is not to be gone
into blindly
While many applications for franchises
have been made, none has yet been grant
ed. 1t seems impossible for the capitalists
and the city authorities to get together
upon any basis OF mutual agreement.
The Council finds objections to the routes
proposed by the capitalists and promo
tiers. and the capitalists and promoters
say the routes which Council has init
mated its willingness to cede are inn
practical if not actually impossible. And
thus it stands; the city in need of i'm
proved rapid transit facilities, capital
waiting to take the matter up, and
Council Safeguarding the public inter-
ests"
AS a solution of the problem presented
by the situation, why should not the
principle of municipal ownership be APP
piled? Why should not the city construct
a street railway system of it's own? A
private corporation would be estopped
from building on certain streets, but the
city could build wherever it pleased. Thus
a perfect and comprehensive system could
be established, giving communication
with the suburbs and affording accom-
modations, which are not now enjoyed,
within the city limits. 1t might be feast
BILE to have the system built under the
auspices of the city by private corpor-
alton under an agreement that the cor
poration should operate the road for a
term of years-ten, fifteen or twenty-at
the expiration of which time the plant
would become the city's property on IA
vorable terms. There are no doubt sew
eral ways in which the scheme could be
successfully financed without materially
increasing the city's burden of obligations
and taxes.
There is really no good reason why the
municipality should not own and control
it's street railway system. The street
railway as public utility and necessity
is upon precisely the same plane as the
water works and the cemetery. The city
OWES both of these, and finds profit in
the ownership. That there is profit in
Savannah street railways nobody will
question. If it were not so, there would
not be so much money seeking investment
in new lines. Why should not the city
and the taxpayers benefit by these
profits? Why should not the dividends
go into the city treasury, to help pay
the cost of running the municipal gov
eminent? Various cities in several parts
of the country own their lighting plants,
both electric and gas, as we'll as their
water works, and find it to their advan-
tage to do so. And in some of the cities
there is movement afoot to take in the
street railways and other public and
semi-public necessities and conveniences.
also. Tom L. johnson was recently elect
ed Mayor of the city of Cleveland large
ly because of his advocacy of municipal
ownership of franchises. especially those
of street railroads And so strongly has
the idea impressed itself upon the public
mind that there is a likelihood that Mr..
Johnson will be one of the leading can
didates for President of the United States
before the next Democratic National
Convention.
The problems Of municipal government
are assuming greater and greater i'm
portance every year; and far from being
the least of these problems is that of
street railways. 1t might be well for
Savannah, as a progressive city, to get
in line with the procession in
the matter of municipal ownership. She
needs to do something.