The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-03-13
MIR. SLOAN'S VIEWS
ON GAS FRANCHISE

press themselves with reference to
the proposition to grant a franchise
to the company to put in gas plant
in Lakeland. To my mind PROPOSE
lions of this kind are of vastly more
importance than the careless man
ner in which they are sometimes
handled would indicate. The re-
quest for this franchise is one OF
the many evidences of the prosper
ity, and progress of our city, and,
while We want to progress and en-
courage every proper agency which
will contribute to this end, yet We
do not want to lose sight of the fact
that in granting franchises. which
will necessarily carry with them
privileges which continue for at
least very long period Of time, that
the interests of not only the city.
but also of individual citizens should
be carefully considered, and scrupu-
lousy safeguarded, especially when
granting a franchise of this kind
which virtually carries with it 4
monopoly. as it will be great many
years at least, before there will be
room in Lakeland for more than one
sas plant.
| do not know the parties seeking
this franchise, but feel sure tina,
they are business men and not only
responsible financially, but men vi
integrity, otherwise our very ell
cient City Council would not, | am
sure, be negotiating with them. City
governments. apparently, very often
consider franchises OF small cities Of
little value, and, in the effort to
encourage enterprises Of various
kinds, frequently not only give them
away but throw in a little extra Ia
way of special privileges. Lakeland
has passed the time when We must
pay any one to accept what fran
chises we control, and, while | do
not mean by this that the PROPOSE
| ton under discussion is not one
which the city can well afford to
accept, yet do know that as gem
eral proposition the time to look well
to the peoples interests is while a
franchise is being sought, and not
after it Ia granted. We want q gas
plant and we may be assured this
company wants this franchise, SO We
need not fear to suggest an arrange
ment. that will at least be to the in
terest of our people.
A provision in the city charter
which requires published notice
before granting franchises was
placed there at the instance Of the
writer to safeguard the interests Of
our people. Many very valuable
franchises have been given away
mot by our city, when taking a
little time to consider and inviting
competition by giving published no
lice, would have resulted In much
better arrangement. | really believe
that 1t would be a wise thing for
municipalities in considering mat
tiers of this nature to invite compe-
titi0n by giving published notice,
that they would consider propositions
looking to the establishing of GER
tain enterprises. II pays to take
time. especially when considering
matters where a great deal is in
volved.
A few years ago when the city
voted $4,000 of bonds for public
improvements, electing the late la.
mented w. B. BOnacker, w. d. Nc
Rae and the writer as bond trus-
tees, several of the offers for bonds
were at prices below par. but by
taking a little more time we sold
them at a premium, and by taking
a few days time when winding up
the deal We saved the city quite a
little Of interest, which had accumu-
lated between the time of issuing
bonds and receiving of money by
the city. When We had gotten the
money, instead OF turning over to
the first bank which indicated will
ingness to take care of it while i'm
provements were being made, we. by
taking a little time. placed it where
it earned the city more than $500,
making in all more than one thou
| nd A411o,u coro.y tha n;tu IL,