Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-04-14
Ordinance No. SIS,

An Ordinance relative to the establishment,
maintenance and operation of an electric
light and power plant in the city of Grand
Rapids, and granting certain franchises to the
Twin City Electric company to operate the
same:
TO the Common Council of the city of Grand
Rapids do ordain follows:
SECTION l. Permission is hereby granted to
the Twin City Electric company, for period OF
fifteen years from the date of the passage of this
ordinance, to place, erect, maintain and use all
the necessary posts and poles and all the nee
essary wires, fixtures and appurtenances in the
streets, alleys and public places of this city 50
far the same may be necessary for the pur-
poses of furnishing to its patrons in said city
electric light and electric power; provided
however, said company shall set said poles and
posts, and place the wires thereon in such ma n
ner and in such places as not to interfere with
travel on the streets, sidewalks, alleys and
public places of said city.
SEC. 2 The height and points of location OF
the poles set by said company, and the height
of all wires used to transmit electric energy
shall be determined by the common council
and shall be changed from time to time in such
manner as said common council shall direct.
SEC. 8. The said Twin City Electric company,
in consideration OF the passage of this Ordi-
nance aud the privileges hereby granted,
release the city of Grand Rapids from any and
all claims for damage which may arise or be
caused to It's poles wires or other property by
the firemen of the city in the performance OF
their duty, during fire or by mobs, riots OF
at all times to protect said city from liability
from accident or injury to any person prop
erty, public or private, caused by its said poles
posts wires or the operation of its said plant
nd save said city harmless from all judgments
obtained against it by reason of the erection,
existence or operation of its said poles, posts,
wires and appurtenances.
SEC. t. During a fire in any building con-
nected with, or adjacent to- the active electric
wires of said company, said company shall,
upon demand of the mayor, or acting chief OF
the fire department, dsconnect its electric cur
rent in such wire or wires during such fire.
SEC. 5. Further in cOnsi leration of the fore
going privileges herein granted, it is hereby
demanded and made d condition. obligatory
and binding on said Twin City Electric COM
pany that it shall never issue more shares OF
stock than the number of incandescent lights
that it rents or its equivalent i'll arc lights or
power Zone share of stock being $500, and
twenty incandescent lights being equal to one
arc light of 1000 candle power one horse
pOwer), and it shall always so regulate its stock
that any citizen corporation of this city shall
have the right to purchase of said company, at
par as many shares of its stock as he or it rents
incandescent lights or their equivalent in arc
furnish lighting service to this city and its citi-
zens within one year from the passage of this
ordinance
SEC. g. The rates charged by said company
for light and power shall be actual cOst-actual
cost to include, besides current repairs and
expenses, reasonable reserve fund for future
construction and reconstruction, not exceeding
Z per cent Of its gross annual earnings, and a
rate of interest or dividends on its capital stock
not exceeding II per cent per annum.
SECT. The city OF Grand Rapids or its legal
successor shall have the right or option to pur-
chase the entire plant of said Twin City Electric
company at any time after its completion at its
fair cash value, the franchise herein granted to
be thereby terminated and not 20 be included
in such cash value, the value to be determined
on the motion of said city or its successor by
the usual methods of arbitration.
SEC. s. The substantial violation by the Twin
City Electric company of any of the conditions
requirements or restrictions imposed on it by
this ordinance shall be and operate as for
fixture of the franchise and privileges herein
granted.
SEC. g. This ordinance shall take effect and
be in force from and after its passage and pub
lication
Dated this-day of---, A. D. 1898.