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 it's fran
chises-of the right to use its 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
clously disposed of as Is money raised by
taxation. The trust in the one case is as
sacred as in the other.
Cur1ously, 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, it
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 city's 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 a gross receipts tax, the readjustment
Of rates, the option to purchase by the
city, the right Of the city to inspect, to
compel extensions, to examine the COM
panys 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. In
attempting to do this it will be my duty
and pleasure to cooperate with you in all
proper ways.
In the meantime it would be appropriate
for the CITY, thru the proper department
and officers, to ascertain definitely what
outstanding franchises and special priv
ileges exist the legal periods Of their
continuance, tho rights of the city re-
specting the same, the possible measure
Of the city's control over them, and the
Emethods and measures adopted by other
cities under like circumstances.
| We should do for this city what every
| large modern corporation Is expected to
do: examine carefully as to what other
| corporations having like business are
doing, and, profiting by their experience,
adopt those means as to franchises which
under all other circumstances, and in
| fairness to all interests, best serve the
city and its people.
! Filtration.
The problem of pure water supply for
| this city is one Of the live questions fac
ing u.s. notwithstanding the result Of the
recent vote on the issue of bonds for q
! filtration plant. That result may have
! been due to combination of causes
prejudice against further bond issues
doubt in the mind of the public as to the
best method Of filtration, and general in
| difference-but the fact remains that pure
water is an urgent necessity.
! The recent report Of the water depart
ment. as we'll as the history of other i'm
provements along this line. suggests that
a remedy for existing conditions may be
at hand without awaiting legislative au-
thorization. The profits of this depart
ment, which should always go toward Its
betterment and the reduction of cost tc
i the consumer have amounted in the paS1
year to a sum approximating $25o,0oo
During the two years of the life of the
\ present council and administration this
amount will aggregate at least half mil
lion dollars, which ought certainly. tt
make possible satisfactory start toward
a complete filtration plant.
The first thing to be determined, how
ever, is the most effective method Of
securing pure water, the expert com.
m
indicating that either the sand-bed plal
or the mechanical method of filtration
will prove equally efficient. Without as
Stunning at this time to pass on the com
. parative merits Of these two methods
J I desire to call your attention to thu
fact that the mechanical system can b.
Installed on what is known as the uni
plan, gradually extended according to thu
needs Of the city and paid for out O
the revenues Of the department. withou
} resorting to another bond issue. In thi
connection it Is well to recall that the