The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-10-18

mass meetlng Oh the citizens of
Roanoke is hereby called to assemble
In the hastings court room, in the court
house, this Wednesday night, February
II, 1894, at 1880 o'clock, for the purpose
OF taking action in regard to opposing
the passage of bill now pending be-
fore the general assembly, granting q
new charter to the Roanoke Gas and
Water Company, IN which provisions
are made by which said company NAV
acquire, by condemnation proceedings,
lands, water supply and the stock and
equipment OF other companies, for the
purpose OF furnishing to the city of
Roanoke water, gas and electric lights.
Ihos. Engleby, Geo. f. Dyer,
John Engleby, j. A. Fish burne,
Joseph EnRleby, Thos. w. Miller,
i. T. Fishburne. Chas. d. Fox,
j. 5. Groves, A. NJ. Nelson,
Is. Andrews, j. w. Somerville,
j. b. Fishburne. w. B Clemer,
a. L. Jamison, VIM. G.. Evans,
5. ID. Ferguson, w. L. Andrews,
N b. Johnston, w. R. Englcby,
L. Ii. Brugh, Geo. L. Bennett,
John M. Hart, Geo. Gravatt,
U. Il. Moomaw. Earmsn IL Earman.
Mr.. Hart, when he had read the call,
nominated @. Is Moomaw as permanent
SAA'At WIZ W1b uud Ill I'D Ou6lV
elected.
MIR. Moomaw, in taking the chair.
stated that the Gas and Water Com pany
claimed the bill had been changed but il
there had been any notifications of It
the fact had not been communicated to
Representatives Thomas and Logan. A.
M. Nelson WAS then nominated and
elected secretary OF the m Meeting, and on
motion of s. Hamilton Graves, the chair
was requested to nominal to q committee
OF three to prepare suitab BILE resolut ions
to prevent the passage of the bill.
8. Hamilton Graves, Thomas w. Mil.
Ter and j. A. Fishburne were appointed
on the committee and they withdrew to
prepare the resolutions. While this
was being done short speeches by differ.
emit citizens were made denouncing the
bill and it's effect on the welfare of the
city.
John M. Hart read copy of the pro.
posed bill as was presented by j. Allen
Watts, and In the course Of his remarks
said the Gas and Water Company was
already paying enormous dividends !;
that recently London capitalist, who
died left some Gas and Water Com
pany's stock, which WAS valued at ten
times its par value. He said that under
this proposed charter they could monop-
oiize all the water in or near the CITY,
take all the water in the river from
many manufactures and monopoliz, all
the leo business in the city. 1t has been
stated in the afternoon papers that part
VI the bill had been withdrawn; il so,
the members of the legislature from
Roanoke knew nothing about it. "They
say" concluded Mr.. Hart, THAT they
dog want condemnation proceedings
IN No, Il -
get It,"
James S. Groves made a speech
against the bill, in which he said he
was glad he was 80 fortunate as to have
been in Richmond somo time ago, whom
the bill was first offered, and when it
was shown him by Colonel Logan, who
asked II the people of Roanoke wanted
such oil passed. He thought 1t was
the proper thing to let the people know
IL, and he informed an afternoon paper.
MIR. Groves advocated q plan of the CITY
owning Its own water works, and quoted
ngures showing that Roanoke paid FIVE
or SIX times as much for water as many
other cities OF the same size.
The committee then approved and re-
ported the following resolutions, which,
altof oelng discussed by DR.. j. ID. Kirk,
.. 5. Pattie, George T.. Bennett and
S' "SAo eeoPboQ ny III unanimous
vote:
THE RESOLUTION.
"At mass meeting OF the citizens Of
Roanoke, held in the hustinQs court.
room on the 2lst day Of February. 1904.
upon motion of T. w. Miller, seconded
by John M. Hart, it WAS resolved that
1t is detrimental to the interests of the
citizens OF Roanoke that senate bill No.
a92, or any bill enlarging the power of
tho Gas and Water Company, should be
passed, as the powers now had and ex-
ercised by the Roanoke Gas and Water
Company are not only sufficient for all
their proper purposes, but ample for the
oppression OF the people of this city.
"2. That the said company should not
BIO granted the right of condemnation.
"3. That the bill now pending should
be so amended as to create q commits
a'cn to Hscertsin and adjust fair, eauit-
aoie "a "a ia "a,er to supply the city of
Roanoke aud citizens.
81. That the general assembly OF
Virginia should authorize the Common
Council for the city OF Roanoke, on
being authorized to do so by a majority
OF the freehold voters, to create a
bonded Indebtedness of not exceeding
$500, 900 for the purpose of constructing,
acquiring and maintaining water works