Bisbee daily review., 1905-09-07
THE DOUGLAS FRANCHISES
MORE PROMINENT DOUGLAS PEo- PILE EXPRESS OPINION ON
 IMPROVEMENTS.
Expressed Public Opinion Is Favorable to Proposed Gas Enterprise and
 the Electric Street Railway.

| Douglas, Ariz., Sept. 6.-(Special.) )- That the proposed gas plants and electric street railway system are good things for Douglas the people of the city are convinced, as appears by the results of interviews secured by the International-Americ from every man of prominence in the city who will express himself at all on the subject. A number of gentlemen were seen who felt that for one reason or an other they should refrain from speak ing at all on the matter, but from those who felt free to say what they thought there is nothing but encouragement for the projected improvements. | H. s. Kenyon, manager of the i Wamel store, was approached yester- { day on the subject and without hesita- tion gave the following interview:
 q have not had time to read the or dinances which propose giving the I franchises for the gas plants, and con | sequently I am not in a position toI express an opinion as to whether they are good for the city and the general interest of the people.
 ! However you may say for me that as a general proposition l am heartily | in favor of a gas plant for Douglas. It will be the means of giving us a lighting and heating system which will solve a good many problems which may and in fact will arise later, and the work of installation on some fair basis cannot be begun too quickly.
 AS to a street railway, there can be no two minds on that subject. Doug 1 las is big town ir area and will soon | be a big city in population and means of rapid transit will be abso- lutely necessary. If the proposition submitted to the city is an equitable one I believe it to be the duty of the people to give the franchise to the people asking for it."
 ! L. C. Hanks. cashier of the First National Bank, is also in favor of the franchises.
 T can only say" said Mr. Hanks. That I favor the franchises as general propositions, for l have not had time to read them. although l am deeply Interested in the subject. Of course. Tthe people will have to settle the question of which franchise for the gas plant they want, and have nothing | to say as to the merits Of either con i lcern. Gas for Douglas is already necessity and before the plant can be Installed the absence of gas will be felt. Therefore, I am in favor of grant ling a franchise for gas plant. which, however. must be equitable to the city and the people.
 AS for the street railway, there Is or wnl be soon a want in the city which only an electric railway can
 un. and with Q proper agreement be- Al hn rTF kO franchise should be granted"
 i E. A. Von Arnim, the well-knOwn
 real estate dealer, was not slow to ex- press an opinion on the ordinances s,on.g lines suggested by the foregoing
 interviews.
 Of course I desire to see Douglas grow, and when we get these modern improvements here we will have more
 bids to offer people who are looking fo- locations" said MT. Von Arnim. i~The franchises should be granted" Postmaster F. E. Caldwell was loath to express an opinion on the subject,
 saying that he had not given the or dinances the attention and study their importance deserve, but as improve
 ments, he was in favor of them, pro viding the conditions were equitable.
 Joseph Calisher. one of the best
 known business men in the city, joined
 with others interviewed in declaring
 for the granting of the franchises. q am in favor of the proposition .' he said, and I believe they will be granted"
 O. $. Long spoke quickly in favor of a gas plant. when questioned on the franchise subject.
 There appears to me to be no doubt of the benefit to be received from that enterprise" he said T have, how
 ever, not read the ordinances as pro
 posed, and do not know their merits as regards the city's interests. We can not be too careful in granting fran chises. but with a good paper protect
 ing the city's interest at all ends and
 sides, the franchise should be given l "As for the electric street railway
 proposition, it is my opinion that the
 time has not yet arrived for that, and
 I believe action on the matter should
 be deferred"