Daily Arizona silver belt., 1907-07-10
BIG COMPANY ID
 OPERATE PLANTS
N. l.. Amster in Letter to Silver Belt Says that Stonc & Webster Will Have Charge of Local Utilities-Franchise Desired But Not Wholly Necessary.
Boston, Mass, July 8, 1907. MT. Joseph II. Hamill, nrl. Gill;. D1lk


 Editor The Silver Belt,
 Globe, Arizona:
 Dear Mir. Hamill-
 Will you permit me to make myself clear to the citizens of Globe, through the columns of your valued paper, with reference to the franchise for the Globe Consolidated Lighting, Water & Power company, which is now before the peo' pie.
 First, let it be remembered that I am not seeking a new franchise nor do desire any special privilege for my com pany. You, and undoubtedly the eiti- zens of Globe, know that we have been granted franchise for both the electric light and gas as well as the water com pany, and that these companies have been doing business in the town of Globe for several years. My aim, as president of the companies, has always been to give Globe as good service as any town in the southwest has, and, if possible, better. 1 do not think (not from lawyer s point of view, because am not lawyer, but from sense of justice) that our rights to operate in the town of Globe could be revoked, not withstanding that at the time we organ ized and procured our franchise, the town was not incorporated and that at the present time it is, for that would be direct confscation of our rights and property, and I am sure that no state in America, especially Arizona, whose citizens sense of justice l know to be very keen, would attempt to do so. If thing like that were possible, you can readily see how it would hurt the town of Globe, or the territory of Arizona, and how it would be almost impossible to induce moneyed people to invest thier capital in Arizona or in Globe. Let me further say, that had not a deep in terest in the town of Globe, I would long ago have sold out my interests in both of these companies, first because my mining and other enterprises take up nearly all of my time, and second, because public service corporation is by no means an attractive proposition, but l have always had great deal of pride about the town of Globe, having, as you know, spent several years in Globe, when it could hardly count upon a population of more than about 400 or 800 souls, and I have watched its growth with great deal of interest and enthusiasm, until it is now, if l am not mistaken, the third largest town in Arizona, and if my assistance and en. thusiasm could make it the first town in Arizona, I feel that it will not be long before it would be so. I am, there. fore, interested to see it have the best possible lighting and water facilities in the southwest, and late probably cleo tric power facilities, so that smaller mines around Globe could get cheaper power than they are now getting on account of the high price of fuel. The latter, of course, would be a tremen- dous help to the growth of Globe. With this in view I had one of the best cleo trieal and water engineers in the coun- try, from Boston, visit the plants about two months ago, and he figured that it would take about $100,000 more for new machinery, reservoirs, pipes, etc, to be able to take care of the present needs of Globe and the immediate future growth of the city; in other words, we found that Globe has outgrown the pres ent facilities of our companies. Now, my friends and myself are perfectly willing to put in this money, so as to give Globe the necessary facilities, but before doing so, my friends advised that We should get a new franchise di- rect from the city, which although at first l did not think was of great inn portance, l can now see by this late opposition and the obstacles which some people in Globe are trying to con- front us with, that it would have been an unwise move on our part to put in another $l00,000 or so, over and above the amount already invested, without getting franchise direct from the city.
 Personally, cannot see how anyone could object to our getting such fran chise from the city, operating as we are already in the city, and especially as we are willing to make all these new improvements for the benefit of the city, and are not asking for an exclu- sive franchise.
 have no objections as to how many the city wishes to grant. so long as they are given to people who really have the capital and the inten- tions to build such plants, but unfor. I know that a great many Franchises are usually desired by people for the express purpose of peddling them out in the east for personal profit, or perhaps with a view to hold up existing companies in a city to pay them something not to use the procured franchise.
 l wish to state right here publicly, that l shall personally welcome compe- tition, for l believe in the old adage, that competition is the life of trade, and l would be very glad if anyone procures franchise that they would build another plant, if they think the city of Globe warrants it, but I do not think it is good thing for any city,