Semi=weekly graphic., 1897-06-23
| QUESTION
 IF INTEREST INTEREST.
SHALL WE HAVE A COMPETING
 ELECTRIC LIGHT PLANT,
speb an Enterprise Would Save the Citizens Over $2S ,O00 Annually.

fbp city council, eIldftef fof the onrpose of erecting and operating m electric lighting plant and street railway. Some months ago. Messrs. " II. Laagford, ]. B. York, ". l.. Dewoody, R. NJ. Galbraith, NJ. A. Austin, N. B. Trulock, Simon Bloom and Dr. J. ". Withers, realizing the necessity of q competing electric light plant in our city. got together and organized a company, with an earnest purpose to build and operate #at the earliest possible moment an electric lighting plant. Our citizens were eated over the prospect as snred by the gentlemen composing this company. Everyone realized that for once ill the history of the progress Of our city, it's OWE wor- thy, energetic and capable citizens had aroused themselves to meet the crying needs of the city and its in- habitants, and to relieEe them from the grinding, exorbitant and arbi- trary rules and charges of the com pany which, at present, has com plete monopoly in that field.
 This company having completed it's organization. and each and every member feeling determined to carry to success the object of its ineorpo- ration. caused a charter to be draft cd asking the city council Co grant # fhe privilege to erect and operate an electric lighting plant and an electric street railway. From some eanse which is not satisfactory to the majority of our citizens, these ordinances have remained under consideration by Che council five or six months without final action. In the meantime, the present monopoly has gone on charging the city and its inhabitants fhe usual ezhorbi- tant rates for lights and power fur uished
 Just as this company was matur- ing it's plans and feeling most as sured of it's ability to carry out its pBrpose, it was met unexpectedly by opposition from the council in its hcsitancy and, maybe refusal to grant the franchise as asked by the company. We learn that the conn cilmcn have no objections to the terms of the franchise sought, but want to compel q forfeiture of tie electric lighting franchise if the com pany shall fail to construct and op- crate an electric street car line. The objections urged by the councilmen are feasible and would be froHght wth conclusive force if we were not situated as we are. The need of a complete electric lighting plant in oUr city is so apparent that almost any sacrifice should be made to se- cure it. 1t is earnestly believed by the promoters of this corporation that it can be made seli-sustaining notwithstanding the severe test in competition to which it will be put by the present company In prooI of their conviction, they are willing to invest their means to this end While, on the other hand, if they are required to jeopardize the heavy in. Yestments that would be necessary to establish this electric lighting plant in tho face of the competition and obstacles they will meet from Inc present company, and in addi ton to that, are required to build and operate a street car line at 2 time when they are most severely tested by this competition, the bur den would be too much for them t6 carry and theenterprise would have to be abandoned.
 The encorporators of this com pany are all representative citizens and large real estate owners of tht city and arc as much a part of oul city and as deeply interested in its lnture prosperity as any body e mon that could be brought together or granted franchise from the city It cannot be successfully urged bJ lhe council that this compa y would not build and operate a street ear meat as early day as it would be practical for anyone to do so. I'm present company was granted ant ls now operating it's electric lighting plant under charter which doe' not require it to build and operat' street car line. Then, to requif' ne new company to enter the fiel9 ei competition against the already well established plant, with tn additional burden of establishing and operating an electric street ca line, whether it be paying invest ment or not. does seem to us to b an injustice to our own citizens Something has to be done and dom anieklyl to relieve cur citizens ans eity from the enormous charges f0 ilght and electric power which ar being annually paid to the prcsen