Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1902-05-21
STREET RAILWAY FRANCHISE IS FURTHER
 DISCUSSED

As requested by MT. Murphy thu
 Journal-Miner cheerfully expresses
 its views on the objections offered b,
 him in regard to the street railroad
 franchise. As to the possible aban
 donment of the line and the leaving
 of an unsightly relic on the streets
 the franchise seems to cover thi:
 point by specifying as to the road be-
 ing kept in operation. If not speci-
 fed in detail, those things generally
 regulate themselves, as was done in
 the abandonment of the old P. & A. c. railroad.
 Not having a copy of the 1892 fran
 chise at hand, we are not prepared to
 express definite opinion in detail as
 to the comparative merits of the re-
 spective documents. This we do
 know that the franchise of '92 al
 lowed one years exemption and al
 lowed any sort of motive power that
 the projectors might select-horse,
 mule, steam, water power, electric, or any other old kind. The later fran chise does not grant any tax emption, neither does it provide for the run ming of locomotives in the streets or alleys. These two points are in favor of the latter. As to other provisions being more favorable in the 1892 charter than in the 1902 charter, not having the former one before us and MT. Murphy not explaining wherein it is more advantageous than the recent charter, for sake of argument the point will be admitted.
 Please understand that the Jour al-Miner's only interest in this fran chise is the benefit which it considers the town will receive from it, and if Mir. Murphy was the beneficiary in stead ot Mir. Wright, it would be found advocating it just as strongly as it always has done for enterprises inaugurated by him for the public benefit.
 The Journal-Miner yesterday ex- plained its reasons for not publish ing the full text of the letter handed in by MT. Murphy for publication on this matter. As previously explained, the columns of the Journal Miner are | at all times open for expression of | opinion by any one, but the editor does not consider it proper he should | be made the target for questions di- rected to him personally. The inter- rogative features of MT. Murphy's | letter above referred to do not def nitely indicate whether the subject matter contained in his various ques- tions expresses his own views, but for the purpose of getting the matter be- fore the public, we will state the points raised in his letter under the assumption that they do indicate what his own views are in the matter. The points raised are the following:
 l. "The kind of rails to be used should be specified"
 2. "The franchise should specify that the equipment should be new md modern"
 8. "The franchise should provide that the space between the rails should be graveled, as well as two .eet on each side, with a sufficient amount of gravel to insure solid ap- breaches to, as we'll as between the ,ails, instead of using the ordinary filing in the streets las provided iD he franchise), which would undoubt- ally be a mass of mud and prove al most impossible during the wet weather"
 4. "It should be clearly under 'tood and provided that at least one nile of track should be completed within two years. The franchise as vorded permits of double construc ion in this point"
 5. At least three trips should be made over the entire line daily, md as many more as can be shown 70 be reasonable and consistent, hay ng due regard for the interests of the public as well as the interests of the ,ailway company"
 6. "In case of failure on the part ,f the railway company to operate Ill or any part of its road for a period ,f 30 or 60 days as above contem- plated (due allowance being made for Itrikes, acts of God, etc.,, the city council should have the right to de- Hare the franchise forfeited or compel , he street railway company to remove ts tracks and poles from the streets ! lpon which and over which said , 'ailway company has failed to oper- Lte in accordance with the spirit of he franchise, and compel the rail , way company to make all reasonable epairs to the streets and walks , made necessary as result of such ' emoval of tracks, poles, etc"
 2. 's1t should be made clear that E, he city council reserves the right to , determine the location of, as well as he kind of poles to be used, with . lue regard for the hallway company's interest as we'll as the interests of the ; holders living on the vari- . JUS streets over and through which ; aid railway is to be constructed"
 8. ''It should be made clear that . be city council be given the power O enforce or give effect to all of the