Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1902-05-14
STREET RAILROAD FRANCHISE

SaNS epusr tO d COinIiluHtCdtlOu HUH F. NJ. Murphy on the subject of the recent street railroad franchise granted to Frank L. Wright in which the writer asked what the Journal Miner has to say on the subject.
 To commence with the Journal Miner does not consider this fran chise valuable one, per SC, at the present time. In other words, an electric railway, confined to the streets of Prescott with it's present population punched together in compact area as it is, would be a los ing investment to any one who might build it. With these conditions it can readily be seen that the recipient of the franchise is not Receiving any thing of very great intrinsic value, whatever estimate might be placed on it by the city.
 About ten years ago franchise for a street railway was granted by the the city council of Prescott of which Mir. Murphy was the recipient. This franchise was even more liberal in its terms than the one recently granted to Mir. Wright in that it provided for a years exemption from taxation, whereas the present one contains no such provision,
 Before granting this franchise, we are informed that members of the city council obtained copies of fran chises from d number of cities and compared them with the one pre- sented by Mir. Wright, and it is stated that the latter is even more favorable to the city than these others.
 The giving of franchises has been a bone of contention in many of the larger cities of the country. One was recently granted in Philadelphia for nothing, for which an offer of 5000 900 was made. In the larger cities they have an intrinsic value, but it will be great many years before street railway franchise in Prescott will have any special value.
 It is much easier to criticise and find fault than it is to suggest a remedy. It is argued, and not with out reason, that the city has gone great expense in grading some of its streets, and by the terms of this fran chise they are turned over to the holders of this franchise ready for them to lay their tracks, hence the city should be reimbursed in some way, but no way has been suggested.
 The city will be the beneficiary in many ways, When an appeal was made to the legislature for tax ex- emption for the s. F. P. & P. rail road, 1t was argued that the territory was practically giving nothing away; and that il would be greatly bene- fitted through the impetus which would be given to the development of its resources and the creation of taxa ble property. This condition has been fulfilled, even to a greater ex- tent than was dreamed of by those advancing it.
 The same argument holds goad in the matter of d street railway! The building of it, with the extension as contemplated, to the mining districts south of town would mean the invest ment of at least S25O, 900, which would immediately become subject to taxa ton. Street car service in this city would result in the extension of it's limits by the formation of additions and the building of residences and other improvements which would also add to the taxable property of the community.
 The closer and more intimate con nections which would be formed be, tween the town and the mining dis tricts would also stimulate trade in the town as well as greater develop ment in the mining districts reached, all of which would be beneficial to the town.
 In other words what the building of the S. F., P. & P. railroad has done for the territory, the building of this electric railway will do for Pres colt.
 While it may appear that Prescott has given away something which, as stated, has no intrinsic value now, but which has possibilities in it of possessing great value in the remote future, the town will receive in the immediate future great financial benefits from it.
 Hence being unable to suggest any better plan for the granting of fran chise, and not yet having seen any proposed, the Journal Miner cannot consistently oppose the one as granted, as it always has been and is now in favor of any and every enter prise which will tend to build up the town and tend also to the develop ment of the county and territory, and in this case the balance sheet of bene fits seems to be all in favor Of the city.
 The agricultural department recom- mends that the first flies which ap-