Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-02-08
A SWEEPING FRANCHISE.

oub vi tub DU1b fhiuupib
ever granted in Wilmingen was given
Tuesday by Street and Sewer Depart
ment, at ITS weekly meeting, to the
Universal Conduit, Light, beat and
Power Co., which was Incorporated ut
Dover last May, and the charter of
which was amended in July. The com.
pany has capital stock of $500, coo,
which may be increased at any time.
Former TaxCollector Edmund Mitchell,
Jr., is president, and Assistant Post
master II. Fl. Billany is secretary. The
chief financial hackers live in Now
York, philadelphia and Pittsburg, hut
President Mitchell declined TO gfve
thoit names when seen by reporter of
the Gazette.
Tho franchise gives the company the
right to at once construct, lay and main.
tain under the surface of each and
every street and alley of Wilmington
conduits, ducts, pipes and electrical
wires Of every kind and description;
to erect poles and striug wires thereon,
through and along all streets and
alleys of the city, and to string wines
on poles already erected, with tho neces-
sary manholes and other appliances, for
| the purpose of furnishing and provid-
ing for the supplying of light, heat,
| fuel and power of every kind and de-
scription, for public and private uses;
also for other purposes it may deem
necessary for placing and maintaining
thereon and thereupon coDduits, wires,
cables, pipes and appurtenances thereto,
for conveying electricity, gas, steam,
| air, oil or for any other purpose desired,
for its own uses ard purposes and for
all the uses and purposes of any and all
| Of its lessons, lessees and subscribers,
and to connect such wires and cables
when SO placed, with overhead wires;
also, to connect pipes IN any manner
desired to subscribers stations and
other points were the same may be de-
sired, in such manner and by such
means as may be adapted to the locality,
and for one, any or all the purposes
and objects set forth in its charter, in
whole or In part, single or collectively,
by, and for itself, its agents, lessees or
yendees.
Under the franchise the company is
not to open or cucumber more of any
street or alley than shall be necessary
to enable it to perform with proper
economy and efficiency the work of
laying conduits, ducts, mains and pipes,
and shall put up and maintain in about
such openings or encumbrances, barri-
ers and lights to prevent the happening
of accidents. Before exei cising any Of
the privileges given, the company is to
deposit with the Street and Sewer De-
partment bond of $1,000 as a guar
antee that the streets torn up are to be
restored to their former condition and
kept SO for two years. The company is
to save harmless from actions for dam
ages, resulting. from the work, the
, | III al s@f "A
must furnish the city, without expense,
space in each conduit for one cable for
the police and fire patrol service, and
such wires shall not be used for wires
conveying, high tension currents.
When the resolution granting the
franchise came up for final reading and
adoption, having been read twice before,
Director Webster move its adoption,
ard the motion was seconded by Presi.
I dent Simmons. Mr.. Carter opposed the
motion. He said he did not think the
city was ready to grant such franchise
| until the matter had been fully investi
| gated. Mr.. Webster said the resolution
, had been pending since last May, anG
. as it had been read twice the member:
were familiar with its contents ant
: ample opportunity had been given for
. investigation. Mr.. Carter still con
tended that the franchise should not b,
J granted at this time and manifested
persistent opposition toward it, anc
r when the vote was taken PIesiden
Simmons and Mr.. Webster voted in thu
affirmative, Mr.. Carter in the negative
also entering final protest.
, President Mitchell and Secretary Bill
lany of the company were present whei
the action was taken, and as Presi
dent Simmons instructed Secretar,
Wiley to notify the company O
the action of the board Messrs
! Mitchell and Billany summoned thei
once, and the franchise was for
mally accepted before adjournment
9 the agreement being signed b
) President Simmons of the board an,
!. the officers of the company. The matte
? is now definitely settled and the com
!. lany can begin at any time the wor
= Of laying conduits, pipes, &C., an
{ erecting wires. The franchise, so fu
y as can be learned, is good for all time
: Warren II. Jefferis, Theo. +. Mechanic
and Edmund j. Gee, on Or about De
cember Goth, last, posted five notice
y on every street and alley of the city
u giving notice that in 30 days the CON
q pany would apply for permission to d
y the things mentioned above.
g. President Mitchell informed n
porter of the Gazette that the con
pany's charter gives it the right I
II manufacture and sell electricity, ga
al steam, air, oil and kindred commodities
IN also conduits, pipes, wires, &C., and ca
I'd arrange with other concerns for rem
ID ing and leasing. The charter also give
st it the right to do tie things mentIone
y in the franchise granted by the Stree
and Sewer Department. 1--WE exrei
In TO begin work as soon as practicable,
IS Mr.. Mitchell said, land also expect
e, do all of the things mentioned in o,
SO charter. One of our objects, which y
d. hope to accomplish in the near futur
is the Manufacture and sale of ele
tricity for light and power PURPOSE
ee We will at first put down conduits Il
or the wires of other companies, Whit
a have been comforting with us relati
IS to the NATTER lie could not say Il
~ exact time when work will be cor
BY menoed or where the start will be mad
:, Society Of Natural History.
IL The Delaware Society of Natur
al History held meeting Monday
10 Friends School Hall. Fourth and We
IL streets. FRANK NJ. Jones exhibited
III new species of roach from Porto Ric
"a A branch of dogwood. containing bic
~ SONS, which had developed indoor
was exhibited. Frederick Hilbib
made an interesting address on milne
aioRy." He showed sundry specimen
"a He exhibited piece of quartz fro
NJ the brandyWine uuarries containi