The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-11-21

- ~ ffNNiNo TOR adequate Npkrcn
anu renewal ~ the plan, aud
&c, To dlseharse tho obligations IN.
cuffvd for construction aud
purchase ef the system.
TO which we may Justly add as
safcguard % civic development.
"tdl To support or strengthen the r..
suence u new railway seeuris
ties which viii be ssauptiai to
ftnenco necessary extensions %
routes and sddtuona 60 the
equipment, ANA particularly Go
provide adequate facilities over.
eominE traffic congestion In
the central section 90 city.
WIN rapid transit to aud thru
Seattle Il az a critical stage In
the matter OF her urban trunsporta.
ton system, With more than si6..
100000 OF public debt obligations in.
CURED for past construction and pur,
chase Investments In the street rail.
way property, there Is the larger and
vital responsibility OF furnishing ad.
equate daily service and making
ample provision for meeting tho ~.
ture needs OF a community with mar
vicious opportunities and capacity for
stowth ana deNelopmcnt.
Our daily civic life and activities
are constantly dependent and all
hopes and plans for the future OF
Seattle must he contingent upon
making and keeping the municipal
railway system an efficient. public
serving. growing and self supporting
pubic utility.
Must Avert Injury
There Is now no issue on public
ownership or occasion for inquest
over psst poilcics Tho fact that
confronG Seattle Is n municipal RAN.
way system with certain obligations
and responsibilities which must be
met for the service. credit and
future Of the community. was
ono who opposed the purchase. be-
llsvlns the price cxacted TO be
double the Value OF the property
and imposing a debt Obligation
larger than the utility earnings
could safely carry and discharge.
But II the city railways system
breaks down under the financial
burdens, the injury 10 Seattle will
overshadow anyones theory as 10
why Il happened Surely no one
would overload the system In order
to boast mn Il toid you so" over
such a breakdown.
II, requires no genius or prophe,
to recognise and declare that Seattle
has no chance for at least twenty
years OF the purchase obligation
period to accumulate any surplus
from street railway earnings. The
condition that confronts Ia the
avoidance OF deficits with their in.
sviiabie sequence OF inadequate
service. deficit upkscp. dcprcclatluE
property. destroyed credit and
crippled civic development Thus. q,
Is that common. ordinary expedi-
ency-nay. more. neccssity--drives
us TO the bedrock Of economic ptln-
cipie that underlies all just public
utility administration. vixs-'serviec
at cost
Why Paving Cost Il Wrong
The fact that privat. franchise
corporations have In the past been
obliged to pave or bsiik. certain
portions Of public streets. or TO pay
some small percentage Of earnings
to general city funds. or other re-
qulrcmsuts not essential 10 the sin.
sic public utility purpose Of fur.
nishinx a certain public servlee--aIl
such were merely evidences Of a
bargain of doubtful benefit by
which the city sought 10 secure
some consideration In return for a
profitable franchise concession.
Suppose that Seattle IN 1900. In
stead Of granting a private mon
opoly franchise for IS years. had pro-