American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1914-12-03

SO expensive and cumbersome as to
make this grevious burden on the
companies compelled to install the
crossings. AS the railroads and tele-
phones are already on the ground, in
most cases, this burden of crossing
construction is thrown upon the pow
er and light; companies alone.
Because of. the low cost of line con-
struction and the early demand for
service of this kind. the telephone
companies have large areas of the
state covered with network of wires.
And now these telephone companies
propose to make 1t impracticable for
the power and light companies to en-
ter much of this territory. They
would make 1t impossible for the pow
er and light companies to parallel or
cross any telephone line without first
accepting rules laid down by the tele.
phone company.
II the telephone companies we're to
have their way In these matters. they
would shut the power and light COM
panies out of the use of all streets and
highways occupied by Telephone lines
unless they kept their lines away from
the telephone lines distance equal
to the height of the talest pole. The
effect of this would be to drive the
power and light companies off the
streets and highways altogether where
they are narrow. 1t would compel
them TO purchase right-of-way over
private property, or to keep out of the
territory.
these demands of the telephone and
railroad companies are based on the
contention that the present type of
construction Is unsafe, that it men
aces life and property
This contention is not supported by
the facts. Thorough Investigation in
to the nature and causes of the ac-
cidents resulting from the use of cleo
uieity in Idaho demonstrates beyond
question that not one of the accidents
recorded would have been prevented
by the changes i'm construction now
demanded by the telephone and rail
road companies.
AS damage cases for personal injury
are liable to result in verdicts Cor
large amounts to the injured, it is ri
diculous to suppose that a power
or light company would not be anxious
to do everything within reason to pre-
vent accidents of any kind.
Power and light companies are anxi
Gus to reach the people with their ser
vice They are anxious TO sell their
product They can make their bust
ness profitable in no other way. II is
to their interest to develop every com |
munity in the state to the highest pos
sible point. to bring every rural COM
munity and every remote, outlying
district, where people live and work,
into direct touch with the convenien- |
ces of modern life.
1t is within the power OF the Public !
Utilities Commission at this time to
give the power and light companies
a serious setback II is within the
power OF the commission to hamper
them badly in their legitimate opera
tons: to harrass them with arbitrary |
and unreasonable rules: to load them |
down with useless expense to bar
them out from many thrifty and pro-
gressive communities: to confine them |
TO the thickly settled portions OF the |
state where they are already es-
fablished, and where the heavy acdi-
tionaly expense might be justified.
This is a matter Of grave concern. |
There is not a community in the state |
hat is not vitality interested Con-
tributed.