Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1895-05-09
THAT 20 YEARS FRANCHISE.
Electric Light Co. Ask Long
Time Special Privilege
From the City.
Sentiment in the Matter Ad-
: verse to Granting Any
Franchise Now.

As mentioned in the Alert short time
ago the city council was asked Monday
night, to grant tho electric light company
q franchise for twenty years, or for some
other long period, which will be practic.
ally an exclusive right, to furnish the
city electric lights. The consideration
for this is not in any cheaper rate than
at present, but as Mr.. Hathaway of the
company says, to give the company some
definite knowledge IS to how long the
city will use electric lights from his cor
poration.
The plan proposed, as The Alert uu-
derstands it, is practically the same con-
tract that has been in force heretofore,
and which is at present in force and tor
\ which the city gets it's arc lamps by the
month at a rate of about $lO5 a month
for II lamps on the Philadelphia or
moon light schedule, with which all are
familiar. This privilege is asked for 70
years, and the city to obligate itself to
pay at least S25, 1000 for this purpose.
The Alert ,s not informed what posi-
tion the aldermen take in the matter,
although 1t is said that a number of
them talk favorably of the scheme. In
interviewing a number Of business men,
property holders, and others interested.
in the city Monday on this subject, 1t is
learned that there is decidedly adverse
sentiment towards granting the franchise
asked for by the company, or any other
company. The franchise is not popular.
The reasons advanced are many, among
them being that electric light machinery
is getting cheaper each year and i'm
provements made in the service rapidly
each year; that, in the course of very
few years, 1t may be possible to get
much cheaper lights than are now
obtained. In fact, the city, it is believed,
can light it's own streets very much
cheaper IN. the course Of q very
flew years than by contracting.
for Is or 20 years at the present price.
As it is now, the city has the advantage,
and it is not seen Why it should sur
render it, as it can lose nothing and may
be greatly the gamer by refusing a
franchise. It can take the lights or dis
continue them a. the citizens see fit and
the revenues warrant. To surrender
this now, without any special object, is
believed to be very foolish policy, and
hearly every person interviewed on the
subject so expressed himeelt to-day.
The city council can, If it should see fit
to do so, introduce an ordnance, suspend
the rules and grant one Of the most i'm
portant franchises, all in one Ilght,
without giving the people an oppor-
tunity for discussion or understanding
or knowing about the merits or demerits
Of the same. 1t is not believed that any
such action as this is contemplated. but
such can be done if the council has a
majority 20 so vote.
In justice to Mr.. Hathaway and the
property be represents his side Of the
case as stated by himself is as fellows:
The company have invested in this
property large sum of money; they are
interested in the town to that extent and
il granted this franchise will send man
and his family here to run the plant;
they have sold the plant to this party
and guaranteed his obligation, ard Mr..
Hathaway CLAIMS, that the accession of
one family to the town will largely
depend upon whether this franchise is
granted as asked for by the company.
In summing up the sentiment obtained
from citizens on the subject the practl-
cally unanimous voice is to let the mat
ter stand as it is.