The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-02

the fire department of the city, and no
longer hamper its efficiency by debating
to the chief appointments and promotions
upon the basis Of public patronage and
influence"
Franchises.
wish to call attention to the rapidly
increasing value in this city of its fran
chises-of the right to use it's streets.
This value increases more rapidly than
population. Minneapolis has grown so
large, and the standard Of living among
the masses Of the people has so risen that
these franchises are Of great intrinsic
worth and are becoming very attractive
for the investment Of capital. They should
be as carefully preserved and as judi
ciously disposed Of as is money raised by
taxation. The trust in the one case is as
sacred as in the other.
Curiously, the fact Of the growing need
of the people for public facilities has been
used as an argument for the granting Of
special privileges without compensation,
on the theory that the public service cor
porations ought in fact to be thanked for
supplying the need. Whatever may have
been the case in the past, quite the con-
| trary is true now. The need Of the peo-
pie is the very thing that gives value to
the franchise. The peoples want creates
a market that is valuable. The privilege
| Of using the streets to supply this de-
mand Is worth much and should never
again be given away, but disposed of, 1t
at all, for the greatest possible benefit OF
the people themselves.
| During the life Of the last council prob
ably no matter created more interest than
the consideration Of the franchises asked
for from the city. This very fact shows
the growing Importance of the subject. AS
to at least one franchise, just granted,
the citys interests have been safe
guarded as never before-not only In the
rates at which service Is to be rendered,
! but also in provisions requiring the pay
ment to the city, under certain conditions,
of gross receipts tax, the reimbursement
| Of rates, the option to purchase by the
city, the right Of the city to inspect, to
compel extensions, to examine the COM
pany's business, and in other ways.
But the value Of the franchises of this
city, as an investment for capital and the
necessity Of preserving the peoples inter
ests, warrants even greater safeguards Ii
attempting to do this it will be my duty
and pleasure to cooperate with you in al
proper ways.
In the meantime it would be appropriate
for the city, thru the proper department
and officers, to ascertain definitely wha
outstanding franchises and special priv
ileges exist, the legal periods Of thei
continuance, tho rights of the city re
specting the same, the possible measure
|, Of the citys control over them, and thu
+ tmethods and measures adopted by othe
cities under like circumstances.
We should do for this city what ever.
large modern corporation Is expected t.
: do: examine carefully as to what othe
CORPORATIONS having a like business ar
doing, and, profting by their experience
> adopt those means as to franchises Whlcl
= under all other circumstances, and II
fairness to all interests. best serve tn
city and its people.
' Filtration.
7 The problem of pure water supply TO
this city is one Of the live questions fac
, ing us, notwithstanding the result OF tn
n recent vote on the issue of bonds for
y filtration plant. That result may haV
=. been due to a combination of causes
y prejudice against further bond issues
b doubt in the mind Of the public as to tn
- best method of filtration, and general in
difference-but the fact remains that pur
r. water is an urgent necessity.
The recent report Of the water depart
= ment, as we'll 4s the history of other I'm
. provements along this line. suggests tina
y a remedy for existing conditions may b
= at hand without awaiting legislative al
- thorization The profits of this depart
- ment, which should always go toward II
l. betterment and the reduction of cost
20 the consumer, have amounted in the pas
y year to a sum approximating $4,000
y During the two years of the life of tE
e.'| present council and administration tn
q amount will aggregate at least half a mi
10 lion dollars, which ought certainly
" make possible a satisfactory start towal
= a complete filtration plant.
IS The first thing to be determined, how
al ever. IS the most effective method
~ securing pure water, the expert CON
IN missions report to your honorable boo
indicating that either the sand-bed pie
Of or the mechanical method of flltrat1e
r will prove equally efficient. Without a.
ly Stunning at this time to pass on the con
a narrative merits Of these two method
RS I desire to call your attention to tt
a. fact that the mechanical system can
a. Installed on what is known as the un
1t plan, gradually extended according to tt
o. needs of the city and paid for out
re the revenues of the department, wttho
We resorting to another bond issue. In tn
he connection it is well to recall that tt
49, new Northeast pumping station, fro
It, which we are now getting a fairly pu
IT, water supply, was completed with {
d. it's improvements at cost Of $4,000
MS paid entirely out of the profits Of t
t. water department.
be
Ifs Voting Machines.
-, Wise legislation in this state has ma
ample provision for the full and fr
expression Of public sentiment at the pol
thru the so-called Australian method
80 voting and the primary system OF non