Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-07-14
JESSE KNIGHT ON
FRANCHISE i QUESTION
Scheme to Give Away City Property
s;s TO Wealthy Railroads for
PaltrN Consideration.
lspeelal CONSEQUENCES

sss III Especial correspondence
PROVO, July 14..----On July 81 a spe-
5cial election will be held here for the
citizens to decide by ballot whether8tte
city shall give away to the two rail-
roads passing through Provo, a part OF
the streets, of the city with franchise
for depot purposes. The city council
some months ago granted franchise,
but was enjoined by Jesse Knight from
transferring the city property to the
railroad people without consideration.
Mr.. Knight held, and his contention
was later sustained by the supreme
court. that the city council could not
give away city property without first
submitting the matter to the taxpayers.
The council then called a special election
for July. q to decide the question. Mr..
Knight has just Issued a statement Civ
Ing his views on the proposition, which
he deems an ubiquitous measure to rob
the people. His statement is OF, spe-
cial interest to the people of Provo on
the eve of the election. EIe says:
The Provo city council is about to
give away to the two railroads here.
for term OF 100 years, considerable
property in the shape of a franchise for
the paltly sum of $500; that is, If the
citizens shall vote yes" to the PROPOSE
ton. As Il taxpayer, l am not IN favor
of giving away to wealthy railroad cor
rorations the city's property tthe
streets and other valuable rights. The
people should have value received for
these things.
Besides. the council is tying the hands
OF the people for all future time, pre-
venting them from extending to other
privileges and inducements on Sixth
South street. If two roads are a good
thing, three would be better.
u myself have spent considerable
money surveying a road from SPRING
Vile on to the reservation to tap the
coal beds and other natural resources
of that region. This question is not a
new one to me.
Now. i know a. man who Will offer $40.
600 to Provo City, at the next session
of the council, for the same property
for nothing to the two railroads He
will put5u a certified check, so there
is no doubt about the matter.
& II the people will vote down the
franchise proposition and give this per-
son whom mention, or a railroad cor
poration which he may represent, a
similar privilege. providing for u union
depot, the money Wilde turned INTO
the city treasury. This amount would
go a long way toward improving the
,vaterWoiks system, or to lessen taxa
ton, or for anysotller needed purpose.
Ihave looked forward for many years
past for the time to come when a
short line railroad from Denver would
be built down Hebble Creek canyon.
The prospect looks brighter now than
ever for a new road TO come to Provo.
Don't give anything away: when you
give, get something for It. 9
So far as this east and west fight
Is concerned it is certainly a disgrace
to Provo. Every fair-minded and UNI
biased person Knows where this fight
originated 1t originated by few peo-
pic holding secret meetings and enter
ing into q contract With the railroad
people. Six thousand dollars was raised
and. donated to the railroads by a few
persons who are located on the west
side of town and who imagined It would
benefit their business to have the depot
removed. regardless Of the public good
It certainly looks foolish to me to
give the money or poor people TO rich
corporations in order to satisfy the IN
dividua desire of a few persons who
have 3heen pushing the fight with the