The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-03-19
THE KNIGHT WITHDRAWAL.

lnaSmuch as Jesse knight has gwen
up all idea of building the iuterurbnn
railroad line that he proposed, and
sought franchises for in this county and
city, the reason which he holds for
stated. So far it has not been quite
So Although we believe very much
in The earnest sincerity of Jesse knight,
there were private conferences held and
failures met with in this city, which Mr..
Knight might very we'll have referred
TO as the underlying reason why he gave
up the project.
With regard TO the treatment of his
application for franchises in this county,
there is no doubt but that he has Just
grievance. The county commissioners
took snap Judgment and turned him
down without a hearing and without
notice. We commented upon that
arbitrary and disrespectful action Of the
commissioners at the time ii was taken,
and stated that nothing could account
for il except politics and personal
antipathy. Ii is well known that the
county commissioners of this county are
devoted Smoot mon; and it is well
known that Mr. Knight is a political
antagonist of Mr., Smoot, and that the
two men are at swords points per
sonally. The connection. therefore, is
easy; the county commissioners i'll this
county administered their arbitrary and
hasty snub to Jesse Knight in order tn
please Smoot. The excuse made by the
commissioners afterwards that they
wanted Mr., Knight TO explicitly point
out the roads which he wanted to oc-
cupy was an unworthy evasion to cover
up dirty act. 1t would be impos-
sible for Mr.. knight 10 designate Just
where he wanted TO run his lines until
he got the franchise for surveying and
building them, and finding out what
route would be the best, Al this was
fully explained by Mr.. Evans in behalf
of Mr.. Knight, but to no purpose; the
commissioners were "sot'
AS regards the treatment of Mr.,
Knight by Salt Lake City, there is abso-
lutely no cause for complaint; the city
was ready to extend to him every con
sideration. ready to offer him anything
that could be asked in reason, was
ready TO exempt his road from all
municipal burden for ten years, and
was exceedingly anxious for him to
build the road as it would, if built. be
of immense advantage to Salt Lake.
The Tribune gave him every encourage.
ment and support: there was not 4
voice raised against him in this city.
for he had it practically all his own
way, and he docs this city an injustice
in coupling 1t with the county govern
ment in the treatment he received 1t
is not like Mr.. Knight to be unfair,
and surely he cannot make any such
complaint against this city as he Justly
made against the county commissioners.
This lndlscrimiDate coupling OF those
who used HIM i'll and those who used
him well was not to he expected from
Jesse knight.
For ourselves, we regret very much
that Mr.. Knight has given up the
project of building his interurban line.
But when he undertakes to give the
reason why he gave up his project, he
should give the real reason, and above
all. he should avoid coupling up his
friends with his enemies, and should not
deal to both a blast of ire which at
least one of them does not at all de.
serve.