The Goldfield news. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1904-1911, 1907-05-11
THE STREET RAILWAY FRANCHISE


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The News believes in giving people from the outside who m here u in
vest their money in improvements of worth to the community the most cordial
and generous treatment especially in the matter Of public utilities nj we must
submit tina thu franchise which me Charles =. Mcswsensy asks If the county
commissioners is entirely too broad and onesdded and would give the people Of
coldhed much the worst Of it."
without undertaking to diagnose this particular franchise. W believe The
News car say for the people of ooidaeld that they want certain provisions in any
franchise granted, which provisions, in general are a follows:
First the franchise must be or a street railway using electric power. Steam
is not wanted, and every prscaution should % taken that M steam railroad gets
concessions from this city, for useo of streets and for terminals under tho gums
Of . street railway franchise. There are several railroads seeking entrance to
ooldaeld. They van the most favorable terminals possible. and it would be
worth untold thousands Of dollars to anyone Of these roads to be able to travel
the streets of aodhsd with its steam cars and dump freight wherever it might
suit. In this connection the franchise should specially forbid the hauling Of
freight of any kind through the streets of the city and otherwise hedge about
the franchise 80 that this innocent street railway proposition does not blossom
nut whent o latea as a regular railroad scheme.
The franchise should also carry provision regarding street grades Street
railway franchise granted at this time, should expressly state that the railway
company will conform to any grade that might hereafter be established by Gold
nd in the event If incorporation or any grade established by the county com
missones now or hereafter. The railway company should also be made to bear
a just part of grading and maintaining the streets and agree to keep its tracks
and right of way 1t the proper level with the surface of tho streeta and keep its
right Of way in good repair.
Another thing; this franchise should 10 be made a exclusive franchise, so
that thu entire city would b monoponzed by n company. It is possible that
not more than ne company would want to build a street railway in aoldaeld-
IT. Is altogether probable; but aoldheld should adopt the general policy OF 'open
shop with reference TO public utilities Every man OF company that wants to
spend his money in public improvements should certainly be given a show. And
too. no franchise in psrpetusy should be given under n circumstances Give
the franchise a liberal lease Of life. tut terminate the franchise some where and
also be sure that there is a practical working provision which would permit of
canceuing he franchise when its provisions are nagrantly violated.
The powers that be should not be dazzled with any offers O. a bonus in the
shape Of a direct money gift called purchase price" or any offer o. a per cent
age Of receipts OF course If they are Of substantial amounts, they should be
considered. But We must lot go farther than We otherwise would in granting
concessions through such sop If re want a street railway At all. we want ono
that is properly conducted under just and liberal terms; but those terms must
protect the people and those terms must be lived up to. We don't want any
bonus necessarily, but we do want a decenty conducted railroad system which is
worth more than any bonus or any gift that any company would be willing to
pay.
There are other important matters that should be covered by a franchise for
the streets railway. But these are h more important that were not covered by
the franchise asked for by Mr.. insolvency. And the Chamber of Commerce did
well Thursday night in recommending to the county commissioners that all bids
fr a franchise so far offered, be rejected.
We believe in the honesty, integrity and good business sense # thu county
commissioners It is IN exceptionally able board. an when the will If the people
of aoldfed is as@rtained in regard to this franchise, W know the commissioners
will govern themselves accordingly