The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-08-01
WHAT THE MAYOR THINKS.
Text of His Light and Power Letter
to the Council.

To the Honorable. the President and
Members Of the City Council
Gentlemen:
The .proDOsed franchise for the Utah
Light & Railway company. TO be pre-
scented for your consideration tonight.
Is the result of conferences between the
general manager and counsel Of the rail-
way company and the city attorney and
myself. and ] feel that The best inter
ests of the city will be promoted. a this
time by the passage Of this proposed
FRANCHISE at the earliest possible time
after due consideration You will OBJ
serve that IL is intended 10 extend the
several franchises which said company
now has, 50 that they viii expire in fifty
years this being the average extension
of about seven or eight years. leaving the
franchise substantially as they are in ali
First-ReducinE the present maximum
price for supplying electrical energy for
lighting and heating and for power for
city purposes as provided in the franchise
you passed with d small additional re-
ductlon for lncandescent Lighting
/ Second Providing for d change in such
prices hereafter. only by agreement or
Third-ObtainIng the necessary land for
reservoir, intake works and conduit
I at Cottonwood Creek and a relnQuish-
ment Of the alleged power rights claimed
/ by said company 20 the waters Of Cotton
wood creek
Fourth-PrOviding for fifty street rail-
way tickets for 500.
Fifth-Limiting trac1age use by other
2
In making this recommendation / shall
! briefly state the principal reasons that
I lead me to do so:
The railway company now has upwards
! of forty years under which to operate
under the several franchises as they now
exist, ana the CONCESSIONS. secured ON
rates for electrical lighting and power.
are substantial and of great benefit 70
/ all consumers. Now that the CITY has
! secured the money on its bond issue and
also secured water from Cottonwood
creek and the necessity for early use of
d N-r HIN nHrr Hn
franchise will hasten the work of con-
strUctiOu and the time the water can be
utilized I am advised by the city at
torneX that the CITY can condemn the
necessary property and alleged water
rights claimed by the railway company
out that the right 70 condemn so LdL
as the alleged power rights are concerned
Of any Sucn rights eNiSt) Is subject TO
the city being able TO show an actual
present necessity for diveTting the water
IN such a manner as TO DESTROY Sucn
power right Gf anv) inasnuch as the city
can divert the water about 300 feet lower
down the stream without encroachmeut
or interference with said claimed water
right and still be able 70 deliver the wa
ter into the Thirteenth East reservoir
1t was the plan submitted. to the voters
and should in my judgment, be followed
Tor the further reason that IL VIII afford
the city an opportunity of having an ade-
! quate water supply at an elevation sui
fciently high To meet Inc future growth
and expansion Of the city on the bench
lands.
While our attorney says We can un-
doubleday 20 on and obtain an order from
the court in condemnation proceedings
( for immediate possession and proceed
with the work. ne seems reluctant To ad-
wise US to do so before "A trial and final
/ determination of the condemnation suit
( for the reason that while he considers.
so far as advised. the cOmpauy'S right
/ 70 the use Of the water has been LOST by
non-user. Vet. not knowing the exact
claim or contention that will be made,
he naturally hesitatcs TO advise or en-
: courage a large additional expenditure OF
municipal funds until the questions are
finally settled by judicial proceedings or
/ agreement
! Litigation as I am advised may take
many months before finally determined
/ 10y the court Of last resort and in the
I meantime the bond issue il drawing $50
J 900 interest per annum. besides work Will
J he suspended and probably delayed a year
I or more
/ This great loss and delay may be avoid
I cd and material reduction in the price
/ of electric light may be firmly secured
! by the passage of this franchise grant
( ing an extension of few years TO the
/ existing franchises. 1t Is also hoped that
I this adjustment viii enable the Utah Light
4 &, RaiiWay company to make desirable
I Improvements in its railway and lighting
/ systems.
: In my opinion the franchise IS reason
/ able and fair to both parties and Of spe-
! cial Importance TO the city at this time
| Very respectfully.
| RICHARD p. MORRIS, Mayor