Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1895-03-14
Grant County gsrala
CLYDE r. sHoWAhTER
EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
Let There BE Light.

An Ordinance granting to Edward
Pollock bis assigns and successors,
the exclusive right to construct, erect
and maintain an electric light, heat,
and power plant in the city OF Ian
caster, Wisconsin.
The Common Council of the city OF
Lancaster dc ordain as follows:
Section / That exclusive permits
sion is hereby granted to to the said
Edward Pollock to enter upon the
streets Of Lancaster and public high
ways in same and to construct, erect,
and maintain in, along, and over the
same posts, poles and wires, and all
other necessary appliances and hx-
lures for electric light, heat. power
and all other uses and purposes Of
electricity, subject to all general pro-
visions of law now in force and APP
plicable thereto and to such reason
alb rules and regulations respecting
such constructions, erections, and
uses as such council of the city OF
Lancaster NAV from time to time en-
act.
Section 2. Said Edward Pollock IS
hereby granted the exclusive right TO
construct. erect maintain and keep
in repair, enlarge, and extend the
same, and carry on the business o.
selling electric light, heat and power
in said CITY according to section l OF
this ordinance, for a perioh OF hftee'
years from the date hereof, and tno
plant shall be in operation within six
months from the date hereof, or this
franchise shall be subject to canceila-
ton by the city council.
The above is a portion OF the draft
OF an ordinance presented to the coun-
ell last week, and which Edward Pol
lock prays to have passed by them.
The other sections relate to the de-
tails of the terms and conditions un-
der which the franchise is to be grant
ed, publication of the same. etc.
The wording OF the present propo-
sition Is identical with that made by
the ,Lancaster Electric Company
one year ago. except the six months
clause in the present one which was
not in the other and the section re-
lating to publication. The one Of
year ago provided that the ordinance
be published in the Herald; Pollock's
does not.
The Old petition originally asked
for a thirty year franchise. but was
amended 50 as to call for fifteen years
instead In all other particulars the
petitioner has copied the old draft
verbatim.
The council have refused to grant
the franchise for the term Of fifteen
years. AT tonight's "wednesday - ses-
sion the question will come up for
further consideration when either a
live year franchise will be granted or
the whole matter referred TO the
council TO be elected next week The
latter is the better course. 1t is well
TO make haste slowly in all matters Of
voting away valuable franchises. The |
fact that Mr. Pollock denounced so
unsparingly. SO bitterly less than
year ago the thing which he DOW
asks for himself is another reason for |
delaying the matter until a little more |
light has been thrown on the subject. |
4 year ago Mr.. Pollock's mind was |
surcharged with the thought 1.-THE |
practice (ot giving away and selling |
franchises) '.has led to more public |
plumber than was ever dreamed Of be-
fore" 1t is worth considering wheth-
er an exclusive public franchise ought
to be given to any man who habitual-
~ couples franchise" with plum
der"
The Herald is iii favor OF electric
lights for the city OF Lancaster, in
favor of water works and ali public
J improvements reasonably within our
reach. but when an application for a
franchise comes from source that
has been actively hostile to similar
proposal NE believe it wise to proceed
slowly and carefully II we have an
electric light plant at all we want it
managed by men who believe in it
and who are enthusiastic in giving the
best service possible. Boys play will
hardly answer
Faith in Ciemcntson.