The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1900-02-22
ABOUT THE GAS Co.
"Citizen" Asks Some Pointed Cues.
tons in Regard to the Ke-
nosha Gas Company.
SOME HISTORY OF THE COMPANY

and is Operating Under g Special Char
| ter Granted by the State Legislature
| March 49, 1856.-The Capital Stock is
Fifty Thousand DolIars,-other Matters
of Interest Concerning the Plant.
/ To the Manager of the DAILY News:
Dear Sir:-As you were at one time
an Alderman of the city of Kenosha,
can you inform the public as to the
present status of the Kenosha Gas
Company?
1. When was it incorporated?
2. Amount of capital stock?
8. Amount of bonds?
4. Date of franchise given by the
city of Kenosha?
5. Length of franchise?
In the present feeling against
trusts, and the demand for publicity as
to their affairs, the standing of all ex-
elusive corporations is being looked
into, and it is but fair that the public
should have full information. 1t has
never been the writer's good fortune
to find any one who has ever seen the
*
to dead donkey, which, according to
Sam Weller, of sacred memory, no one
ever has seen.
There was a great howl went up
throughout the city because the Elec-
trio Light Company was given a ten
year franchise; yet we are quietly sub
hitting to the arbitrary actions of the
Gas Company, which claims an eX-
elusive franchise and forever. is not
this worth looking into? You certain
1y, as an ex-a1derman, ought to know
all about it. If gas can be furnished
at a profit at ST. per thousand for cook
ing purposes, why not for il1umina-
ton? II is the same gas, run through
the same pipes, and with the same
fragrance. Other cities have exercised
their right to regulate the price of gas
to their citizens; why should not Keno
sha do the same?
What better issue could the Repub-
1icans have in the spring campaign
than the reduction in the price of
Illuminating gas, and the regulation
of the Gas Company in its erratic
actions? CITIZEN.
In answer to the above the ex-a1der-
man sees no reason why he should be
expected to be walking encyclopedia
just because he had the questionable
honor of serving the city one term as
alderman. However, in the present
case we can accommodate "Citizen" to
some extent and will answer his ques-
tons by number:
1. 1856.
2. $4,000.
8. $4,000.
4. City of Kenosha never gave the
Gas company a franchise.
S. Perpetual state franchise.
To explain more fully: In early days
it was the custom (now done away
With for the state legislature to give
special charters to corporations of this
kind, giving them powers and rights
which nowadays they have to get from
the cities in which they operate; the
Kenosha Gas company was among the
last to get special state charter in
this manner.
In March q, 1856, the State Legis-
1ature passed law (see Chapter 332,
Laws of Wis. for 1866 creating Sam'1
Hale, C. B. Sho1es, w. S. Strong, S. B.
Scott and Josiah Bond body polite
and corporate with perpetual success
sion, named Kenosha Gas, Light and
Coke Co., and giving the company the
right ''to lay pipes in and along any of
the streets and avenues of the CITY,"
and the Exclusive right" to supply
the city and citizens for twenty-five
years. The company was authorized
to have a capital of not over 100000
and to hold real estate not to exceed
$4,000. Some time after the company
came into the hands of the Kimba11
family, where it has since remained.
Some ten years ago the company was
re-organized with a capital stock of
$4,000 and bonded for $4,000. About
three years ago Milwaukee parties OBJ
tanned an option on the whole plant
and since that time they have oper-
ated it under contract. The $4,000 in
bonds was taken up and new bonds
of SIS, 900 were issued, SOS, 900 of which
were sold.
The above are the facts as we under
stand them. AS to the ''how1 about
giving the electric light company ten
year franchise there is nothing in it.
The electric light company has fifty
year franchise, and the "how1' was
about giving the company a ten year
contract to light the city at high
price for long time.
The difference in price between
Illuminating and fuel gas is a matter
we have nothing to do with, but some
of the reasons the gas company give
are that the company makes a special
price on fuel gas as it is used largely
in the day time, while the i11umin-
ating gas is used principally during the
evening in about four hours, thus the
fuel gas used in the day time helps to
equalize the use of gas and keep the
machinery running; and then, too, an
average family using gas will use from
| two to four times as much for fuel as