The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1909-12-11
Municipal Ownership.

Robert II. Price and James j. o Rourke."
Municipal Ownership.
The Siftings- News is in receipt Of the
following communication from Mr.. N. c.
Merrill, one of the principal owners Of
the Hot Springs.
Enclosed is clipping about a great
municipal "Cure establishment" at Carls-
bad.
Vienna, Austria, Dec. 4-The Carlsbad
municipality has purchas. d property in
the center of the town, including the
Hotel Der Gold.ne Schild, for S275. 600
On this site the city will erect. at q cost
Of half a IN lion dollars, the most magni-
ncent kurhous tcure establishment) in
Europe, to contain reading room. a res
taurant, theatre and = concert hall.
This is in line with what James J. Hill
is preaching in the Worlds Work each
month, and what Clifford Pinchot's earn
est efforts to conserve the natural re-
sources for the people.
The water powers, coal deposits and
mineral springs are Natures great re-
sources and should belong to and be
conserved for all the people.
Conservation holds that natural re-
sources should not become tho basis for
private monopoly; it demands the COM
plete and orderly development Of all ma
tural resources for the benefit of all the
people, instead Of the exploitation Of
them for the benefit Of the few.
The present generation should use and
guard the national resources SO our de-
scsndants shall not be deprived Of what
they need.
The Hot Soda Springs are the basis
for the greatest enterprise Idaho Springs
has. The arc the equal Of Carlsbad.
TkAy are in many ways superior to all
other springs in Colorado. II they were
developed and q great public "Cure Es
tablishment' erected, ten thousand peo-
pie would come to Idaho Springs every
year. With good hotels, on an average
every person would spend 800. That
would be 100000, or more than all the
other revenue OF the count.
There are several groups OF men
negotiating for the mineral springs, who,
if they secure them, will exploit them
for their own gain. That is all wrong
The mineral springs should belong to
tho City Of Idaho Springs. The city
should buy or lease the entire springs
property for a park. Then by proper
concessions controlled by the city, devel-
op and manage the springs to the salts
faction Of the people Of Idaho Springs.
1t will not cost the city or the taxpay-
ers of the city one cent. On the contra
ry the city will commence to reap a
profit the very day it takes over the min
eral springs.
The present owner will sell to the city
on terms Of payment SO long deferred
that the grand children Of the present
school children will not pay cent for
the springs. During all this time the
springs will be a source Of profit to the
city. The oity will be asked pay less
interest than one half the net profit the
city makes out of the springs. Or, the
city may rent for 80 or 1893 years on an
annual rental that will give the city
more than half the net profit.
In other words, the city Of Idaho
Springs can NOW secure valuable land
part to sell in lots, the rest to use fol
parks and make Of the springs Public
Cure establishment" and put into the
city treasury thousands Of dollars every
year for accepting the property NOW and
taking care OF it.
Carnegie gave to the city a library
but the city expsnds money every year
to maintain it. The owners Of the springs
will turn their property over to the cit,
on basis that will make clean profit
to the city and bring million dollars
worth of business.
Will thA C;fv - Idaho Cpr;p0c accApf