The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1911-01-26
OF CITIZENS AND
THE ALDERMEN
NINETY-NINE YEAR GRANT
almost Unanimous Expression Of
Opinion That No Such Grant
Should be Made Them"


ton of the traction company for thu
grant of additional franchise giving
it a right of way from the Public
square over Buffalo street to thu
southwest addition and over one o
the streets of that addition to tn,
Normal College should be observed
and carefully considered by every
man who is interested in the growth
and future of Johnson City,
Ninety-Nine Year Grant.
We refer first to the request for q
ninety-nine year grant. Never be-
fore has an application for fran,
chse of this character been made by
any corporation to the city author
tiles. 1t is the almost unanimous
expression of opinion that no such
grant should be made to the Trac-
ton Company or to any other person
or corporation. 1t is also a matter
of opinion equally well pronounced
and emphatically expressed that the
grant of the uses of the streets of
johnson City to private corporations
should in each and every instance be
fairly and reasonably compensated
for by the corporation seeking it.
The franchises of this character be-
long exclusively and particularly to
the corporation, and constitute one
of the valuable assets of the city,
which if properly handled and re-
stricted, will eventually be made a
source of revenue to the town, and
in this way beneficial to every citizen
in it. 1t is strongly urged by the
representatives of the Traction
Company that if this grant is not
made perpetual now that in the flu
ture, in the event the city now
gives only a privilege in the new
territory where it is sought for thir-
teen and fraction years SO as to
terminate with the old franchise on
the other streets of the town, the
Traction Company will be made the
subject of unjust and oppressive
exaction by the city authorities,
which may then be in power. This
contention deserves no consideration
whatever at the hands of the city
authorities. As matter of self re-
spect the people can never treat up
on any subject with any person or
corporation upon the assumption
that something must be done by
them now which they will not here
after do because they may hereafter
become unjust or dishonest. The
board should see that such tactics as
this does not succeed in getting it to
make a leap in the dark. The
grant of franchises should be made
as short in point of time or duration
as it is practicable to make them,
and, if in the future it becomes nee
essary to extend them in the inter-
est of the public, it must be pre-
sumed that the just and honest
course will be pursued and the prop
er action taken by the authorities at
that time. 1t is then, and only
then, that all the circumstances and
conditions can be seen, and the
proper action be taken as may be
called for by them.
IL III lIC lliSdiIkilHC lHC (OtllpdIly |
enjoying the free exclusive franchise
has suffered unexpected hardships or
has not succeeded as well as hoped |
for, or the growth of the city has
not been as rapid as expect
ed proper consideration can be given
to these matters. So likewise if the
business of the company has been
more successful than contemplated,
if the growth of the city has passed
beyond the expectations of the peo-
pie and all the conditions are more
favorable than anticipated, then, the
compensation to be asked for the
continued use, either exclusive or
non-exclusive of the city franchise,
can be properly figured upon, and
Justly and fairly settled and de-
termined.
Therefore, it is manifestly mat