Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1901-07-15
MASS MEETING.
Citizens Gather to Talk About
franchises.

tHt JpSsAAEtss
a meeting Of the citizens OF this
II city was held in Municipal Hall Sat
q urday evening for the purpose of dis
q cussine the matter of opposing the
Il extension Of the franchise Of the 10.
y cal water company, and OF the grant
n ing Of franchises tor other purposes
n without valuable consideration
At eight o'clock in the evening
the citizens began TO gather in the
II hall of the municipal building, and
& at $50 o'clock there were about two
hundred and fifty persons present.
II Attorney Charles Goodwin started
q the ball rolling by proposing the
81 name Of Major w. =. McGrew as
{ chairman of the meeting. The Ma
n jor was promptly elected wire voce.
q to fill the chair. Somebody nomi
n Dated Frank Weaver as Secretary,
81 and this election followed in the
N same way.
II Major McGrew announced the
N purpose of the meeting in the clear
n est possible manner, invited discus
u sion upon the question at issue.
II Charles A. Goodwin arose and adj
B dressing the chair, commenced
@ speech upon the question which
ii lasted for fully three quarters Of an
8 hour, and in which the speaker gave
Il a comprehensive and exhaustive eX
" PLANTATION Of the views and viewpoints
III of those who oppose the granting of
W any franchises to the concern known
generally as the Union improvement
s Company Mr.. Goodwin stated in
81 part as follows. He first stated lie
proposition upon which he intended
H to argue-whether or not valuable
n rights and privileges shall be given
away to certain gentlemen connected
II with corporation located In this
Z CITY, without consideration, or at
n Jhis time at all, to wit: a water
3 Plant, Trolley line gas and electric
II lighting privileges, the franchises for
one Of which privileges has still sev
en- wears, or one third of its life yet
& to run.
y Mr.. Goodwin protested that he
would as leave see these men who
are applying for these franchise, get
4 them, as any other individuals or
D corporation There was no personal
q aninus in his breast; his opposition
was an opposition to the principles
"a involved, not to the men. These
n priv .eges the speaker asserted be-
z longed to the people, and the people,
as he viewed the matter, were under
no obligation to give away public
81 privileges to the corporation or its
representatives. This city Mr..
n Goodwin asserted, is just in its i'll
fancy, and no concern should receive
4 a franchise at this time, except for
a valuable consideration. If the
4 Union Gas and Water company will
come to the cisy at the end OF the
n seven years yet 70 elapse before their
U, franchise expires, and the city then
NJ finds that it cannot afford to buy
~ and own its own Water Plant, then
~ it will be time enough to consider
u an extension OF the franchise, and
the consideration therefor.
8 Mr.. Goodwin ended by making a
motion that the chair appoint com
mittee of five to draw up petition
Il addressed to the city council, asking
4 them TO arrange ,or vote OF the
n people upon the question of grant
ing these franchises at this time.
The motion was adopted, and Dir.
Z. NJ. Turner, Chas. 4. Goodwin, /.
Z Pickenpaugh, George Barbe, and
4 Frank Sennett were appointed the
"a committee to draw up the resolu-
tions.
Hon. Z. NJ Grant, representative
I Of the Union Improvement Company
was recognized by the chair. Mr..
/ Grant began by stating that the
4 Company and himself had been the
I victim Of considerable misreprcsen-
tation through the newspapers and
on the streets. He offered to allow
a committee to examine the com
panv's books to ascertain the facts
as to the receipts and expenditures
3 OF the Water Plant He stated that
IL less than Sll 600 had been collected
4 last year for water rents, and that
L the expenses Of operating the Plant
3 was at least $500 per month.
Said Mr. Grant-We Will have to
/ expend at least 100000 to increase
q the capacity Of the plant to meet
#the demands of a city growing as
rapidly as Morgantown has grown
& within the past few years. We will
i have to lay ninety tons of new pipe
" in the near future, in order to sup
Sply some Of the recently acquired
Hterritory within this city's limits.
I'VE will have to constantly add to
Sthe original cost OF the plant which
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