The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-04-07

obtaining an adequate water supply
fer ~Aibuautraae At the expiration Of
the present franchise" have reached
the conclusion tina the wisesi course
for this city Is 20 grant a rev fran
chise under pruper terms and condi-
lions. and have made that recon-
mcndatlon 10 the council. At the
same time this committee transmit
sed 10 ghe punch a proposition from
a Water supply company. and a
bin for a now frnpehise. which Il
ccnsiders IN the main to be reason
able. After a careful reading Of It's
report and OF the water company's
proposition and franchise. the Her
aid h inclined 20 agree with the
committee IN IT, conclusions.
The process o. elimination by
which the mmtt arrived At its
main conclusion IN favor Of a new
franchise appeals TO ~ ms an example
Of i~evel-headed judgment After
putting aside as an idle vision the
proposition OF a gravity water supply
drawn from some distant mountain
roaee or canyon. the committee m
dlentes tina three courses open 20 Al
buqucrque as follows.
ITO bald a naw plant: du-
plicafing the present one.
ITO purchase the present
water works.
3-To zrpnt a new franchise
fer o term Of years.
The waste OF the nrst course % as
obvious To any reasonable man as Il
appear 20 have been TO the commit
Zee.
Having recently rejected one o
osltion 20 purchase the water works,
the committee is justified In conrlud-
ms hat the people have n o changed
their minds since that time.
Thus. II We are 10 settle the water
supply question at all the commit
tee concludes that the only curse
open b a new franchise under proper
terms and conditions.
The Herald has heard sug-
gested a fourth course as open
10 Albuquerque, whIch the COM
mittee very properly ignored.
This il to permit the present fran
chise 20 run 70 Us end and then
take a chance" on getting the water
plant al a knock-down figure las
Junk. as we ave heard IL expressed.
This. IN effect, il the proposal Of on
nscation- No committee Of business
men would consider such a PROPOSE
ton and we are convinced there are
very few II any people In A%lbuquer-
aue who would consider Il seriously
for very long. The rates IN the pres
ent franchise are unjust. Its sliding
scale Of prices Il ridiculously unfair.
but the present owners OF the water
supply did not make those rates; and
a community which grants a fool
franchise iaevitahiy must pay Tor itH
f~ooiishness To our mind the Unjust
Ice Of the present franchise Is a very
strong added reason for getting from.
under Il ~ speedily as possible. Any
feeling q RESENTMENT for past wronga
has no place IN a proposition 81 strict
business. which Is the only basis upon
which this matter should be consid-
cred. The water company has GER
tuin property rights which must be
conaidered. now ~ four years from
nHnf AM aN.aN a. L.. NN.ua
rights would constitute a wrong
which would bring with Il the ines.
table penalty Of lone Drawn out
contes, over a public utility than
which there can BE- ny,hng more
disastrous 10 the welfare OF any oom-
munity, great Or small.
The main question Is whether thls
city shah own its own water plant,
or whether d shall ieaye the water
supply In private ownership II AL
buqucrque were an old ana settled
community. Il We had reached our
growth b attitude Of the Herald
toward municipal ownership would
be different But We have no,
reached our growth. o1 anything like
a. and the Herald Is fatly opposed
to municipal ownership Of the water
works nov; becanse oui - a consid-
cradle o1perlence with CROWNS cities
the owners Of tins newspaper know
hat nothing can become more cost,
than = water supply pmui In a youne
ana growing community which y
spreading out and extending. first ~
one direction. hen IN another an,
possible sasing Ia cost o. water which
y muuiclpotly owned plant can eivs
me consumers over the rates a pri-