The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-01-19
GAS FRANCHISES.

1ht1 ERANOhA0EN1.
The city council has passed what Ii
known as the Price gas franchise to
a second reading. Its action In this
matter IL % the greatest Importance
to the public Cor many reasons. The
interest the Press has in the matter
10 tho public benefits to be derived
from such q franchise. The Price
company has asked for this franchise
asa business proposltion. We do
not know who Il back Of il. John
Carr and associates have also asked
the CITY for gas frinchiss and SUBJ
mittsd an ordinance nc the last meet
ing OF the board which Il refused to
consider. We are as much in the
dark regarding the associates Of the
Carr franchise 40 we are OF the other,
bat . comparison Of the two shows de-
fects and differences which the coun.
oil cannot afford 70 ignore any more
than the Members can consistently 70.
fuss TO consider the Carr franchise.
Neither 81 these proposed fran.
chlses provides for bond TO make
good the fuliilImeut Of their provis-
Ions and 10 protect the city against
failure TO carry out the privileges
granted. 1f either OF both are given
Q franchise and fnil to carry out the
agreements the city has no recourse.
Neither hes u any protection against
possible damage Gases resulting from
the open bitches which must he made
In the streets In construction and ox-
tending the pipes and mains except
10 30 90 court. These things should
al be covered by good bonds. That
- the oniy method oi iIlsuring the
carrying out Of the franchise and
protactlng che city. Price may be
backed BY the gas trust aud Carr BY
the Consumers Company, bat both
deny theae rumora and a good bond
would make the real owners second
AIRY MISTER.
The Carr franchise promises aAs at
. maximnm of o1.76 per thousand
feet. while tbs Price people want ~
per Thousand feet and Il IL safe 10
nay that she price will not be below
the maximum. Both figures are too
high. A new company IL 10 supply
Spokane with gao a el, and while We
do not believe Il conld DO supplied
here at that aanre, IL seems 10 IA that
oi,T6 or on 10 q pretty stir rate.
Nothing 10 mid In either franchise
abQut the quality u gas 10 be sup.
piled except that a shalt be- merchant
able, and anyone who has used this
ilI0mlnanI know that there ls big
differences between 4 low grade gas
giving yallow name and . high
grade giving . white fame.
Tia Carr franchise promises q sale
% the plant to the oiay In ten years
"a prizes flxed BY q board Of com.
mimionsEs. The Price franchise
prumiBna q sale In fltteen years. One
provides for free meters and the other
fails 10 mention them. Both have
provisi0iia 10 prevent sale to a Dom
pstitlve company furnishing light.
The Carr franchise offers the city two
pr oant Of its gross receipts for the
privileges granted, while Price offers
but enc per cent. This difference Is
too great 90 be ignored.
We have mentioned some Of the
more important defects % the pro-
posed franchises. Many minor ones
mlght bo shown BY going over the or
dlnances In detail, but these ought
% be sufficient 10 cause the city oOun
ell b make haste slowly and see that
Tho interests of the people are proper.
" protested. The time 10 do that Is
now and Ne believe II h The duty OF
thu trustees 70 take up tho Carr or
dinanoe for confederation along with
the ether, and the people should have
all the advantages OEfeFcd By the lat.
Tar. But neither one Of these nan
aAlaes shonld be passed In their press
ent torn and 10 40 10 will be an In.
Justice 20 the people. II we are 10
have eas Cor lighting and domestic
upa. n should BE- Of the best quality
and on tho best terms possible. with
only he beat Interests % the people
e the object Of granting the fran
chise. Il 10 up 10 The trustees 10
protect their interests and che com.
pany that offers the BEST Inducements
In every way should DO given the