Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1897-10-07
ELECTRIC LIGHTS VOTED
Village of Randolph Grants a Ten
Years Franchise to a Company.

of Randolph, at largely attended special
meeting Monday evening, granted a ten
years. franchise to the White River Eec-
trio company for street and private elec-
trio lighting. The rates are the lowest in
the country and the service will be OF the
test.
Moderator j. ID. Deniscn presided and
ii. w. Tewksbury was elected clerk pro
TEN.
After the reading OF the warning, the
clerk, at the request of w. B. Wall, read
the written agreement between the
Bethel Electric company, builders OF the
power plant at Bethel, and the White Riv-
er Electric company, so that the voters
might know what assurance they had that
the power would be sufficient to insure
adequate service at all times:-
The clerk then read the following reso-
lution:-
RESOLVED, That the White River Elec
trie company OF Bethel, Vermont, be, and
the same hereby is, granted exclusive
right and privilege, until the first day OF
Jnly, 1908, OF erecting and maintaining
necessary poles and wires, on and along
the streets OF the village OF Randolph, for
the purpose OF furnishing electric lights
and electric power generally to said village
and its inhabitants: the poles to be paint
ed, and the location thereof to be fixed by
the village trustees, and the lights to be
furnished not later than the first day of
September, 1898; that the village take, of
said company, and pay therefor semi an
nually, two hundred 81 candle power
standard incandescent lights, at i've dol
lars per light per year, and five 2O0O-can-
die power standard arc lights at fifty dol
lars per light per year during said period, /,
and said lights shall burn until 2 80 O'Clock
in the morning; but IL the company
shall fail, for an unreasonable time, to
furnish said lights then said right and
privilege shall be forfeited at the election
OF the village; and IL said company fails
for any cause to furnish said lights for
more than week, a pro rata deduction
shall be made from said price for the time
it thus fails; lights to run 3l2 nights in
the year and all other nights when needed.
This grant shall in no wise be construed
to compel the White River Electric COM
pany to maintain a steam plant.
After this had been made the property
OF the meeting by acceptance Oh motion
of A. G. Wheeler, it was discussed some
what.
DIR. E. f. Upham expressed a doubt as
to the ability OF the plant TO furnish sufh-
cient power at all times.
Rev. g. w. Morrow asked for re-
reading OF the above contract and resolu-
tion, which was done.
T. o. ~
Hamden Mcintyre explained the advan-
tage OF the system proposed by the resolu'
tion. The five arcs, placed one each In the
depot square, schoolyard corner, in park
at end OF Main street bridge, corner Of
Pleasant street and Randolph avenue and
one somewhere on the slope % Main street
hfil. would ligbt Ile ceatral ana business
portion 8f thevlmge nicely SIT tboW mauy
fUasudesgautss Ia#
....rt au.. MOSTLY Shaded. could .." 5.. .a-t
.. ....H. ..@..H.--
t#. Morrow Thought that il was
..-.. aMaao fl be true.n His only fear was
aa. tla company might lose money and
Give uD the -Yetemt which, he thought,
.ufrHt 30 an injury to the village Otner
speal,ers soon convinced him that the viii
lage could In no way lose anything by
such means
James Hutchinson moved the adoption
of the resolution, W hich Was carried unan'
imously. This was in effect the granting
OF the franchise.
After adjournment 1t was pointed out
hat the resolution said nothing In regard
to the rates for private lighting. Mr.. Wall,
who is member of the White River com
pany thoug ht this was not properly sub
iect to be considered by village meeting,
but made statement that the rates would
be the same as published in the HERALD
the psst two weeks, as follows:--s2 per 10
C. d. for stores; Sl.0O per same, mousse -
for churches and halls, not less than six
to be taken. The White River company
is ready to guarantees these rates for the
full ten years to anybody.
There was but little difference OF opin-
ion. The result is hailed with general sat
isfaction.
The offer is a most favorable one and the
village is to be congratulated on knowing
a good thing when it sees 1t.
Work will begin right away in setting
the poles and it is hoped that our streets,
at least, will be lighted by New Years.