The Topeka state journal., 1903-05-05
coNoERNINe FRANCHISES.

CON GERM NG FRANCHISES.
In the matter Of granting a new fran
chise to the reorganized Topeka City
Railway company this paper wishes to
be distinctly classed with those who
have tie utmost good will toward ala
the gentlemen who propose to put in
new and necessary capital to give this
city creditable street car transporta-
tion. It advocates nothing that would
be rigorous or prohibitive in the carry
ing out Of wise plans.
On the other hand. it must be borne
in mind that this paper is ever watch
ful Of the interest Of the city of Topeka
and her citizens. 1t would be direlecv
in itseduty were it otherwise.
The street railway people wish to put
in their money and make the line proht~
able They can do nothing without the
city grants them certain rights ana
privileges. It must be borne in nina
that the city gives away a valuable
franchise, one which in the larger cities
is worth millions Of dollars: that is. the
privilege alone. On top of this the city
gives the right of way for the entire
distance The company does not buy
this as do steam railroads. but the city
absolutely gives the right OF traverse
over its streets
The city is entitled to something be-
sides good. first class service and equip
ment. It is entitled to some revenue.
It is really a partner in the concern and
a most important one, too. Elsewhere
in this issue are given figures which
show that street railways as a rule are
big money makers. But to be money
makers they must be enterprising. with
modern and first class equipments and
conduct themselves like other success
full business corporations do in other
lines of commercial pursuits.
The new company now says to the
city that in order to raise funds it mus,
have its franchise. which has nine years
to run, extended to thirty years.
This is reasonable and plausible On
the other hand now that the city rail-
way finds its franchise in an unsatis-
factory condition in some respects it is
proper to note that the city too has
found some of the provisions unsatis-
factory All should be remedied to
gether, and a liberal franchise granted
which viii safeguard the interests of
Topeka and encourage the new capital
to feel that its investments viii be
profitable
Three objections might be stated from
the city's standpoint to the old charter.
First the blanket" feature which per-
mits the road to run over any and every
street in the city. Why not limit this
to the present lines with new ones to
be granted as the opportunity requires,
the same as provided for specifically in
the recent Vinewood ordinance.
Second-A provision which with the
abandonment of a line viii require the
company to take up its tracks and re-
pave the right of way. Such a provis-
ion would avoid the trouble which came
up when the track on Topeka avenue
was abandoned and the citizens re-
quired TO repave; and would have
avoided the disgraceful conditions which
exist to this day on the abandoned
Fifth street line. 1t is fair to say that
the new company proposes to repave
this street.
Another open question" lies in the
fact that under the present charter the
street railway could probably run it's
double tracks over the Kansas avenue
bridge and pay nothing for the privi-
lege. This is unjust to the city, not to
say that tracks on this bridge would
mar the structure and injure the regu-
lar traffic. The present pile bridge of
the street railway company is certain
ly a temporary affair.
If the council can satisfy itself that
the provisions in the new charter in re
gard to a revenue for the city are suffi-
cient that is we'll and good. but they
should be satisfied on this point and
remember that only yesterday Los An
geles sold franchise for $100 900; that
Kansas City, Kansas, recently granted
a charter which provided for s per cent
of the gross receipts to the city and
that the city of Chicago is now trying
to reenact an old law which gives it
one-ffth of every fare.
All of these things require care and
consideration, but we have no doubt
that the council and the company can
fix up a charter along these lines which
viii be just to all concerned.