The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-05-15
IN REGARD TO A FRANCHISE.

IN REGARD TO A FRANCHISE.
Two bodies Of men are applying for
a franchise to build central heating
plant in this town to engage in the
business of furnishing heat to the citi-
Gems OF Richmond by circuit of pipes
carrying hot water.
As matter of fact the definite pro-
pOsals of neither OF the companies
asking for franchises have been made
perhaps It will be q week or more
before the two proposals of the rival
companies can be made public and
laid side by side. Until the definite
proposals are in, 1t Is not only foolish
but prejudicial to talk Of the terms
In particular. especially as there
seems to be g chance of them vary
ing from their present forms. But
there are a few things which need to
be said row to the citizens Of Rich
mOnd. who ere every one of them Wit
ally concerned with any franchise that
may be granted
In the first place franchise Is
permit granted by the city to do bust
ness for stated time privilege
which will entail the tearing up of the
city streets and alleys, a privilege
which will affect the heating problem
Of the citizens for years to come. a
privilege which IS worth something
to any company which can operate a
plant In business like fashion.
From the admissions OF both the in
terested companies Richmond is a
good field for central hot water or
steam heating plant because Of the
Capitalization Of the business district
and the compactness OF the residence
district-thus making an economy of
piping and greater tapping capacity
per pipe than is found in towns which
are widely scattered and sparcely
settled.
There are many other consider
ations which are present now and
there will doubtless be many others
before the twenty-five years OF the
franchise are up, which will add to
the value Of any concession made at
this time. II the franchise. in other
words, were not valuable there would
not be such an effort to secure it. 1t
might also be mentioned that this is
almost the last new species of public
utility which has to ask for a fran
chise-we have almost every other
sort.
Every citizen should know that any
sort OF franchise may become extreme
" valuable no matter how 1t may
seem at the present time. In the
course Of years franchise may be.
come more and more valuable. What
then 10 the city of Richmond going to
do? Will 1t grant Il franchise with
rights which are of unknown value
grant these things without careful
investigation-grant them without
knowing how the privileges asked for,
here. compare with those concessions
granted In other places? Will the citi.
zens avoid the matter and allow it to
go BY without examining into it, and
allow the franchise to be granted
without Investigation OF their own.
The practice OF most cities and citi.
gems IS OF Just this character. Even
when there is no reason for criticism
Of those who have granted franchises
Is representatives Of the people. OF
ten there has been no attempt on the
part Of the citizens to look into the
matter themselves but the people
have invariably abused the persons in
control when they did not look into
the matter At the proper time.
The only way to be sure OF q thing
Of this sort Il to have the matter Civ
en- ample time TOR Investigation. II
there Is anything which needs to b
altered II the franchise It can b
found out. n that way both the citi
gems. the city officials and the com
pany 60 ahsAd without stain and with
out Just criticism.