Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-08-07
WHY THE OPPOSITION 4?

citizens Of Salt Lake who think for
themselves. and who sometimes read or
hear Of the wmthful utterances Of the
obstructionists who fight every project
for the benefit and progress Of the city
in which any Mormon is financially
interested are asking why there should
he so much rage over the passage Of
the ordinance consolidating the fran
chIses held by the Utah Light and Rail-
way company They are also wonder
iug 8hy a gentleman who has exercised
his undoubted right o8 member Of
The city Council 20 vote FOR that which
he believed Ia be for the public adj
vantage, should be 50 grossly assaulted
for exercising that right. even though
IN doing 30 he did not follow the die
ration OF the opponents Of the meas
ure.
We'll, the real anlmus is very poorly
concealed IN what might be termed
political plot. but which Is only a fac
tonal scheme, concocted by few con-
eplrajors for the purpose Of gaining
control Of the city and its finances, In
The latter ls involved the handling Of
The one million dollars obtained by the
issue Of the water bonds, voted for by
The taxpayers Every possible obstacle
has been thrown In the way Of the plans
10 bring the Cottonwood water into the
city under the present municipal adj
mlnistration, although the need OF the
full winter supply to be obtained there
by Is IN daily evidence and Is obvious
10 every resident OF the city.
II our friends win take the trouble
20 read the franchise that has passed
The council and has been signed by the
Mayor they VIII see that IL II a mea-
sure in tho public interest. The city
gains greatly by the transaction. Such
benefits as the company obtaining the
franchise receives reyerts also to the
city. because the public reaps the ad-
vantages thus made possible, We have
previously summarized them, but we
viii briefly recapitulate'
The company already has franchises
covering the points involved, the long
est Of which lasts for a. years, These
are consolidated and made to expire
simultaneously in 90 years--an extern
sion Of hut eight years time on the
longest franchise. and estimated at
about ten years average extension.
The city gets for these meagre ad-
vantages to the company the latter
water rights and privileges on the
route OF the proposed line Of the Cot
tonwood watersy valued AZ 100000 with.
out litigation and without paying one
cent for them. The city also gets in
creased free supplies OF light and pow
er for public purposes, over and above
those furnished by the company under
the old franchise and worth large sums
OF money annually.
The people using electric lights get re-
duced rates which win be a big saving
10 every household and business frm,
They also get reduced rates on car
fares Thus they obtain direct bcne-
fits while they derive others indirect
~. from the sources We have named
as municipal benefits
Contrary to stories that have ap-
resred I'm print inter-urban railway
lines may connect with the street car
lines Also contrary TO similar tolo-
ahat arc told TO work up ill-feeling the
forfeiturcs, provided for undoi Tho Old
franchises, can be enforced under the
new one, regulated of course by law
and not arbitrarily as some folk.
would try 20 urge.