The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-04-10

If the Pioneer Electric Power COM
pany of ogden is granted the franchise
practically agreed upon by a majority
of the city council last night, then this
city for a period of 25 years VIII be
able to secure street lights at 81 per
lamp per month. This will be almost
as cheap as the city with plant OF IT'S
own could do the lighting.
The joint committee on franchise met
last night and considered the Pioneer
company's application for a franchise.
There were present Councilmen Dale,
Diehl, Wiscomb, Mulvey, Allen, LIE
Prohon, Lloyd, Callister, City Attorney
Mckay, c. K. Bannister, chief engl-
neer of the company, and their attor-
pey, Judge lie Grand Young. Mayor
Spencer of Ogden and President Newell
Were spectators.
The proposed franchise was taken up
and considered section by section The
first thing to cause a discussion was d
clause granting the company permls-
sion TO construct conduits for under
ground wires, such conduits to be for
the exclusive use of the company. This
provision was a new one to the coun-
cilmen, and MIR. Bannister explained
the purpose, which in the first place,
he said, was to provide for any future
all wires placed underground. The
company wanted exclusive right to the
conduit, not wishing TO have the wires
of other companies forced in and prob
ably work an injury TO the original
company'S wires.
JUDGE MKAY'S WARNING.
Judge Mckay warned the council
against giving any company exclusive
right to eonduits, whether constructed
by a company or the city
After some further discussion in this
line the section was passed by without
action,
The clause fixing the maximum price
per kilowatt hour for electrical energy
at 20 cents was left standing, and the
following clause, wherein the company
offered 10 furnish street lights all
night at 81 per month, came up Inc
only change in this was to make 1t
obligatory on the part of the company
to furnish light at this price during
the life of the franchise, instead of
period of five years as the company
originally proposed.
The clause fixing the maximum
price for arc lights, commercial light
ing. all night, at SIS per month and till
u O'Clock at so per month, 1000 candle
power in each instance, was left stand
ing but when the city fathers came
to the clause which granted churches
and public schools lighting at halI
rates there was some kicking heard
THEY FAVOR HOSPITALS AND
CHURCHES.
Judge Mckay wanted churches
stricken out, saying the city had no
right to legislate in their behalf Null
vey followed suit and Wiscomb
thought churches were able to take
care of themselves.
It looked as though the whole clause
was to be stricken out when Diehl
moved to include all hospitals in the
half rate schedule. This had the effect
of pacifying the opposition and the
amendment carried so that churches,
public schools and hospitals will pay
only Ealf rate for their lighting if they
choose.
The company also gets a franchise
permitting it TO sell manufactured and
natural gas. The former was asked
for; the latter was inserted by the
council members. For manufactured
or artificial gas for Illuminating pur-
poses the company may charge S1-5O
per 200 cubic feet and for heating
purposes 81 per 1000 cubic feet. The
natural gas clause caused some debate
and ct was finally fixed at 80 cents per
] 900 cubic feet, with the pToviso that
if the council should at any time fix
greater maximum rate TO any COM
psny the Pioneer company should be
permitted to charge the same.
It was very evident that most of
the members favored making the rate
50 cents, but Mulyey, who is wary on
everything asked for by a corporation,
happened to remember that the coun- |
Gil had not yet decided on the rate for
the Salt Lake & ogden Gas & Electric |
Light company's franchise and it
would therefore place the council in a |
bad position to grant the Pioneer com |
pany so cent rate.
THE CONSIDERATION.
Then came the most important part |
OF the franchise. In its application the !
company offered, as a consideration |
for entering the city. to furnish the |
city with 20-hOrSe power for sewage !
pumping for a period of 25 years. |
Diehl at once moved to increase the |
amount TO 50-hOrse power, but an |
amendment increasing the amount TO
25-horse power carried. The words
sewage pumping" was also stricken
out and for municipal purposes" sub
stituted.
Mr.. Bannister strenuously objected
to the latter change, contending that
it was unreasonable for the city for
example to utilize the energy for light
ing purposes as this would be entering
into competition with another COM
pany.
The company is to deliver this power
at its sub-station, wherever that may
be located. Power in excess of 25-
horse power is TO be furnished at IL
cents per kiIowatt hour. This charge,
however, may be changed.
The balance of the franchise was
then gone over and passed upon with
oud any objections. But before the
committee adjourned Judge Mckay
suggested ii would be a very good plan
tc have the Utah Power company put
up pole line and then force the
Pioneer company TO use it, This did
not suit Dale. who would not take an
arbitrary step TO interfere with any
contracts between the two companies
Councilmen Dale, Allen and Callister
were then constituted a committee to
meet with City Attorney Mckay to
draft a franchise in accordance with
the ideas expressed at the meeting.