The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-07-14
STATEMENT ISSUED
BY JESSE KNIGHT
Mr., Knight StrenuousIy Objects
to Provo Giving Away
Property.
Special 10 The Tribune.

Special 10 The Tribune.
PROVO, July l3.-Thcre will be an
election held in Provo July 81 to vote
on the proposition Of granting a fran
chisc to the Denver & Rio Grandc
Railroad company on Third West and
Sixth South streets for depot purposes,
The city council Of Provo granted the
franchise at one time, but was cnjoined
by Jesse Knight.
Mr.. Knight s contention was that the
city council could not give away city
property without first submitting the
matter TO the taxpayers, This contcn.
tion was upheld by tho supreme court
and thercupon the city council called
an election for July q to vote on the
question. The following statement by
Mr.. Knight will be Of interest to the
people of Provo and is the first gun to
be fred in the campaign:
The Provo city council Is about to give
away TO the two railroads here. for
term OF 100 years, considerable property
sum OF 5000. that is. if the citizens shall
vote yes TO the proposition. AS a tan
payer. | am not In favor OF giving away
TO wealthy railroad corporations the city's
property Cthe strccts) and other valuable
rights. The people should have value re-
ceiycd for these things
Besides. the council Is tying the hands
OF the people for all future time to eX-
tend to other roads that may wish TO
come here privileges and inducements on
Sixth South street. II two roads nre
good thing, three would be better
I myself have spent considerable money
surveying road from SprigVlllc onto
the reservation 10 tap the coal beds and
other natural resources OF that region,
tC Tan l. N..s To
Worth Ten Thousand.
Now know man who VIII offer slO,-
600 TO Provo City, at the next session of
the council. for the same property and
privileges that the council Is giving for
nothing to the two railroads. He VIII put
up certified check, so there is no doubt
II the people win vote down the fran
chlsc proposition and give this person
whom / mention or railroad corpora
ton which lie may represent, similar
privilege. providing for union depot, the
money will be turned Into the city treas
ury. This amount would go a long way
toward improving the waterworks system,
or TO lessen taxation, or for any other
needed purpose.
| have looked forward for many years
past for the time To come when a short
line railroad from Denver would be built
down Hobble Creek canyon. The pros
pcCt looks brighter now than ever for
new road to come TO Provo. Don't give
anything away; when you give, get some
thing for It,
So far as this "east and west fight is
concerned il is certainly disgrace 10
Provo. Every fair-mindcd and unbiased
person knows where this fight originated
ii originated by few people holding Sc
Crct meetings and entering into con
tract with the railroad people SIX thou
sand dollars wss raised and donated TO
the railroads by n few persons who arc
located ON the west side of town and who
imagined 1t would benefit their business
l., Il a,,l1,.e e
the public good
1t certainly looks foolish 90 me TO give
the money OF poor people 10 rTcn corpora
tions in order 10 satisfy the individual
desire OF few persons who have been
pushing the light with the bitterness that
has characterized II all along.
Let us get into our right minds for
once and do the right thing.
JESSE KNIGHT.