Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-03-31

wanted by the city IN order 20 COM
plete It's arrangements for bringing
IN the waters Of the Cottonwoods. and
valued at 100000 a very low estimate,
and also to furnish lighting to the city
during the entire time OF the franchise
valued at about $4,000 a year also to
pay the city SIS a year FOR each Of lts
street cars The company Is to reduce
It's charge for electric lighting to an
average OF 10 cents per kilowatt hour TO
consumers who pay their bills by the
7th day Of each month, while the aver
age for light and power s only about
cents per killowatt hour,
We suppose the people who have put
themselves into frenzy over the
nifty years extension asked by the com
pany, win now come down to common
sense, and maybe they will consider
they have gained victory. All right.
We are content Some benefits will ac-
crue to each party 10 the arrangement.
The city gets by far the bigger
end Of the bargain. The public
get the assurance OF reduction In
lighting rates. The company simply
obtains a consolidation OF It's several
franchises in one. with very slight
extension OF It's time, ana those people
who have been so anxious to put bar
in It's way VIII doubtless feel glad that
the enterprising gentlemen who have
furnished this city with light and
transportation without receiving any
financial returns therefor, have not
been encouraged TO pursue their good
work but have been left TO push their
way along as best they can against the
obstacles that are still In their path.
We desire to repeat, for the benefit
Of readers who have not yet grasped
the situation, that the Utah Light and
Railway company has never offered or
desired TO sell the properties that are
to be conveyed TO the city II the city
does not want them, they are not to
be bought for any price. The company
can use them TO increase its facilities
by at least 1900 horse power. II was
the city that wanted to obtain them
and made the FIRST overtures to acquire
them.
The company has not charged the
prices permitted by the franchises
which It held, but has furnished lights
al one-fourth less than the maximum
permitted.
The price at which the company has
offered to furnish light to consumers is
lower than that pretended to be offered,
by an uniformed association that ten
ders nothing In return for a fifty years
franchise.
II the city will extend TO the bona
fide company which now has It's poles
and wires extended to every part of the
municipality, the fifty years franchise
asked for by the up-in-the-air associa-
ton the former will furnish light to
the people at a further considerable re-
ductlon from the rate that the latter
pretended to propose That Is, " MOTH
ing is required in return for the fran"
chlse. the company will furnish lights
at lower prices even than those II now
proposes TO charge.
The inconsistent agitators against
the Utah Light and Railway company
have the folly and impudence to urge
upon the city Council to give the
doubtful concern fifty years franchise
without any consideration whatever IN
return while they bully and threaten
and browbeat, and insult such
members Of the council as can see the
advantages Of granting the franchise
TO a responsible company, willing TO
nav a big price for the concession ana
who regard the other proposition as in
substantial, one-sided and Of no real
benefit
The utah Light and Railway COM
pany has spent such means as IL mas
acquired, in the Improvement of its SER
vice and intends to do SO In the future
II does not pretend 20 be perfect, but
admits the defects that have existed
and has taken steps 10 remove them
and Is furnishing this city with bet
Tor light and street-car services than
could be expected in a city with so
small population and very extensive
and widespread area as exist in SAT-
| Lake city.
We understand the cause OF the
anlmus exhibited against the company
by certain individuals, and view II as
both petty and malicious, The pre-
tense that it is IN the interest Of the
pubic, Is as absurd and untrue as the
assertions that have been made con-
corning the whole natter to deceive
the unwary and scare such members
OF The council as have grlstle instead
/ Of backbone.
Thinking people ought not to be car
rled away by inhammatory speeches
! and attacks upon a corporation after
the usual style Of Populstic harangues,
but should use their judgment and, AZ
any rate, look ut both sides OF a mat
ter before making q decision and join
ing in with indictments and opponents
OF rational progress, Let the city
| Council do what Is right and just and
fair, and the great body Of our cltl-
zens, when they fully understand the
facts. win support. them against all
,..e.,,vd.d and eiuIqtor onpoqltiou