The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-07-28
MUNICIPAL

~ ECENTLY the Evening Herald
published a communication
from Thomas V. Ross urging
that the city take over the street car
system and Operate Il for the public
good. Mr. Rcas urged that the sery-
ice WAS a public utility OF much
greater importance than improving
the water service. which after all. he
said. supplies the nu,d ia quantities
abundant and qualities d~rlnkable.
We differ altogether with Mr.. Ross
should the city take over the traction
system II would be In h same con-
dltlon that IL was for several years
before the fire. only more so. That
Ia. there would be funds enough to
operate u. perhaps. arising from the
fares paid by passengers, but there
wouldn't be anything with which TO
make extensions or improve the serv-
ice. ~ possibly ES q REPAIR h
cars.
Municipal ownership 81 this con-
Germ would mean that the former
policy Of extending en-, the traf-
nc demanded would b. carried out,
whereas. traction practice IN the
middle west. where IL has been
brought 10 It's highest efficiency. has
followed the line Of opening up new
territory which had trnfac possible
Ties before the possibilities became
actualities. An official of ms local
traction company stated some years
ago that extensions would be built
into a certain district-university
Heights, We relieve II was-when that
district mad neen settled up enough
90 warrant them. That r.. when traf-
nc from thai section 80 town and
back was likely to he bis enough 10
pay tae expenses of operating the line
and interest on the Investment II
would make necessary.
Now OF course there would be no
real reason why the city should pur-
rue this policy. except that the "eco-
nomical' Republican administration
hasn't left any money In the treas
ury with which to do e. II would
need a bond ISSUE. and q Mr.. Ross
IL looking for sudden annihnation, lc,
him mention a bon iu1ue to some
Albuquerquean who u a heavy tax
payer, Listen 10 what some people
say about a bond issue 10 purchase
the water plant. admittedly a going
concern and one that he himself says
is doing business In a passable way,
at least.
His propagation bolts down 10 ta)
either the same old service under city
management with all the kicking
that means by the public. for every
n kicks at a city's management Of
anything. anf a dangerous issue in
serted into local poutes. plus the
other disadvantages OF municipal
ownership. Or Oh a bond issue Tor
Improvement. with the same danger
qua Issue VI tNffA HAk |iNaEuiilti Nf
the amount ~ money TO be expend.
ed. some. perhaps all, Of the adyant-
nges Of municipal ownership. certain
iy plenty OF its disadvantages, n a
constant quantity Of kicking because
extensions are not run TO the resi-
dence sections chosen By some OF the
voters for booming. plus very likely.
corrupt politics to force extensions TO
sections bought up by politicians who
want 10 increase the value Of their
holdings az public expenFe.
OF the two evils, we prefer existing
conditions. bad as they arc A busi-
ness management Of his line may
improve II some time before 1850 but
the rad tape Of getting a bond issue
passed. etc. etc, for Improving the
system on the part Of the municipal
ity. will be stirring up scandal and
trouble foreye