The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-02-26
FRANCHISE VOTED DOWN
Council Would Not Pass Mr Hams
WOrth'S Measure.

a special meeting OF the city council
4 was called last night by Mayor Mclean
/ to consider a proposition from John J.
/ Hainsworth. of indianapolis, Ind. TO dig
wells in this city and try and develop nat
ural gas fields in this vicinity Every
member of the council except Dawson
werepresent The franchise was voted
+ down on the idea that Mr. Hainsworths
/ franchise was too much Of a monopoly
/ on the gas business in this city to let it
| be passed.
| Mr.. Hainsworth had prepared an ordi-
nance and had it submitted to the city
attorney during the afternoon and they
| had discussed it thoroughly. The fran
chise granted Mr.. Hainsworth and his
associates the right to lay pipes and con-
struct their appliances and apparatus
in the city and in fact, everything neces-
sary to distribute gas and oil throughout
the city.
The franchise was to extend for twenty
years and it was provided that work on
sinking the wells should begin within six
months and they We're not to go less than
two thousand feet and II at tn expira-
ton of six months they did not begin
work. the franchise would be void
The city attorney stated that this was
a blanket franchise and the members Of
the council thought It was before they
had discussed it very long and had heard
Mr. Hainsworths side of the matter.
There was a clause that stated that
| the company could furnish natural gas
II they could find It, and also that they
could furnish fuel and Illuminating gas
made from oil or coal to the inhabitants
of Wichita and there was where the coun-
Gil baked and they absolutely refused
to go any farther with the franchise IN
til they had time to consider it.
J. Giles Smith was the first to start
! the discussion by moving that it be re-
ferred to the franchise and license com
mittee to report at the second meeting
of the council in March. Mr.
Hainsworth then said: II have been here
FIVE days and have thoroughly examined
the field and / believe that gas Is 10 be
/ found near here. I ask for no bonus from
the city or your people, but I want that
/ franchise as it stands I cannot remain
/ here any longer and the franchise would
/ be worthless 10 me after tonight as I
could not go back and tell my people
that I was unable to get the franchise
they wanted. 7 do not ask for an exclu-
sive franchise"
J. Giles Smith got the floor and said:
Gentlemen, this is q very important prop
position. I know that every one in this
city wants the natural gas field devel-
oped but we must obtain the best prop
csition from the companies that we can.
two weeks before we pass this ordinance
and give the members time to consider II.
Mr. Iscly stated that he had not had
time 10 read the ordinance or think about
it. so he wanted more time and thought
that every member should read the orlii-
nance.
Afr. Burton asked Mr.. Hainsworth II he
would consider the proposition that a
clause should be inserted in the or6i-
10 IN 4h1 n-< ha
company did not find gas or oil within
five years. then the franchise should
become void.
AR Hainsworth then said: Now. gen
tlemen. ! have had a great deal Of ex-
perience in the gas business and II Is
a well known fact that a gas well VIII
only run about ten years and then we
must figure some way Of disposing OF
using our apparatus. Now. we ask that
YOU grant US the franchise so that when
the gas does run out We can manufacture
gas and thus be able TO get our money
out II the business. We are wiling 20
spend q good Sun q money n this city
ard az we ask IA that you lee us do this
and then give Us a chance 10 get our
money ont again II is business propo- 1
sition with Us. We couI dcc among YOU
and when any uember asked how long
this gas business would contiuue and 7
would tell them ten years they would
naturally ask what Is going 70 Be done +
with those pipes at the end Of that time 4
and We would be compelled % md some +
way 70 get a return for the money. 80 1
We ask that you grant rs TIE right % .
make gas Il necessary
The gentleman also stated that The
franchise Wouid b q n heueft unless
uased last uieht so Ar ScheA moved
that substitute motion be placed which
voted dovru the ordnance
Nr. Davidson said Il and al TIE peo-
PIE q this city want someone 70 develop
fhe gas and OF feeds aroBnd The city
know th7t the business men q this
ctr VIII rot 20 iuto the scheme ard We
must look n outside parties 70 ct this
ee1d develcred Vow I am urwi1Hrz %
rsss this franchise 81 the present tine
and in its present shape. bat an perfectly
Wiling 70 eraat ~. Hsl-sworfh p fran
rnte7 II = riause Is inserted thaf s. they
asa net End rzs or o. Eithtn FIVE yez-s
thar ere franchise she1lo become rold'
ar Smith shea SIT the Gro- and sad.
Gentlemen. We must have tire 20 cg1-
stger the proposition. believe that We
vl have Eas in thlz cts - ussd-sufn-
mer fl fact thF-e 81 z c1ua1anT fzurs1g
on bringing TIE gas h4re- TeeF ARE men
~ csnftsl ard knew ssst- business. 50
W. should take tire - cansi5sr 80 -
thcse nT7pCssfloas IS cher are very Izi-
portrait n ths cry ard slse paorls.
Er Bellies ssid- z want sc--e uore
tine ~ censser the rr71osltle-- es
Do ret fury saIsratanl &; ara tAias ws
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