Evening journal., 1900-02-10
BIC CONDUIT
FRANCHISE
Other Side of the Story Stated
BY President Mitchell of
the Company.
APPLICATION FILED LAST MAY

APPLICATION FILED LAST MAY
THE EVENING JOURNAL INTER
VIEWS MIR. MITCHELL UPON THE
sUBJECT or THE FRANCHISE
AND THE PURPOSES OF THE
NEW COMPANY.
lie who hears but cne side OF story
Is never competent to make a Just
verdict. Common fairness demands
that the public be enabled to consider.
what there is to be said in favor OF
the Universal Conduit, Light, Heat and
Power Company's franchise, as well as
the objections urged against it. In order
that this may be done the Evening
Journal caused President Mitchell to-
be interviewed upon the subject Of the
franchise and the purpose. Of the COM
pany; and In order that the points Mr..
Mitchell wished to make may be cor
rectly grasped by the reader the ques-
tions asked, as well as the responses
made are given in detail The inter-
view follows:
Evening Journal came to see you
in reference to the Universal Conduit,
Light, Heat and Power Company. OF
which your name appears as president.
VIII you state what your company pro-
poses to do2"
Mr.. Mitchell--''We propose to lay in
the streets covered by our franchise
pipes and conduits to convey gas, cleo
tricity, steam. heat and, if perfected,
liquid air.
Evening JournGl-"Do you propose
TO manufacture gas and electricity"
Mr.. Mitchell-"We do"
Evening Journal-"Does your capital
come from Wilmington ?"
Mr.. Mitchell-''Part OF it does. but as
our capital must run up into the mil
lions you can readily see that most OF
it comes from outside of the city"
Evening JOurnal-"There appears to
be an impression that your franchise
was not given proper consideration"
Mr. MITCHELL don't see how we
can be accused OF that, as our applica-
tion was filed with the Street and
Sewer Department last May. We post
ed five notices IN every street we want
al 70 use in December last. stating we
would apply on or about January 30
fer this franchise, and. by the way the
papers all Published that notice The
franchise was read January 80. and tho
Street and Sewer Department refused
&c grant US the permission at that
meeting. and would only consent TO
have It read, and postponed action un-
I'll the following meeting, which was
February 8, wnen it was granted
Evening JOurnal-"Don't you think
you should have given the city some
return for your franchise?'
Mr.. AIitchell-"That matter was
considered. and We first thought of pro
posing percentage of our profit in lieu
Of other taxation to the city, but oul
attorney said the new Constitution
would not permit our company to be
relieved of other taxation, as no clas:
taxation is permitted, and all compan
les would be assessed and taxed alike
Again, he said If we gave a percentage
the city might be construed as in part
nership with us. and might be liable
for any claim for damages made
against our company"
Evening JOurnal-"It is claimed b,
some that your franchise is more lib
erai than any yet granted"
Mr.. Mitchell-"That might be tiul
as far as the Street and Sewer Depart
ment is concerned, but other franchises
equally as liberal have been granite,
by the Legislature for this city"
Evening Journal-"What are they?f
Mr.. Mitchell-"The Wilmington Goa
Gas Company has permission to tea
up at will all streets and alleys, AM
our franchise covers only the street
specified in our permit. The Whining
ton City Electric Company has
sweeping franchise. Both telephon
companies also have sweeping fran
chlses. The Wilmington City Railwa
Company also has very sweepin
franchise. The above companies d
nothing for the city, while we will carr
the overhead wires of the city free, an
also, We think, TO reduce by one-thir
the cost OF lighting by either eleC
tricity or gas not only for the city II
self. but for all others who will use ou
light. The only difference, the aboy
enumerated franchises are owned by
number Of corporations, and the sam
with a few additions have been granite
us, and / want to say frankly II is I
the interest of the city for one con
pany tc do all at one digging up of I'll
streets, putting down conduits f
wires and pipes for gas, steam hea
etc"
Evening Iournal-"was the boar
unanimous?"
Mr.. Mitchell-"Well no; not as Il
vote appears. although Mr.. Carter stoi
ped me on Market street Wednesds
afternoon and said he wanted me
understand he was not opposed to Il
franchise or my friends who were q
terested in it. and had it been pos
poned a week fer consideration
would have voted for it,"
MILL CREEK CANDIDATES.
Joseph Higgins has announced hiI