The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-03-07

permission to address the council. He
expressed his disappointment at what
he thought was the dilatoriness of the
council in acting on the petition. A
month, he said, had passed since the
petition vas submitted and he believ-
ed that ample time had elapsed to
give the subject the consideration to
which it was entitled.
Chris Yegen also spoke and said
the company was anxious to get it's
plants into operation as soon as pos
| sible and he believed tina the oun
Gil should pass the ordinance at once.
It was finally decided that the com
mittee be given until the next meet
ing to prepare and submit a bill for
an ordinance.
H. w. Rowley now followed in an
address to the council in which he
emphasized many of the mattersAcon-
tanned in the communication of the
Billings Water Power company. He
IGCOIllllClluSu LID III View VI C1C ldCl
that the city would soon require ad-
ditional lights, for the new city hall
and library, it would be no mor than
fair if the city were to advertise for
bids to supply such lights. This
would place the cid and new COM
panies on an equal footing. He also
suggested that all the citizens should
be considered in the matter of grant
ing a franchise to another company
and the interests and rights of all
should be conserved. He. further
more advised that a clause be inserted
in the proposed ordinance providing
maximum rates. for all classes of
lighting.
Mr.. Kurtz, representing the new
company, spoke in favor of the petit
ton of the company and asserted that
it was not proposed to serve any par
ticular class of patrons. but that it
was the intention and desire of his
company to serve all. Representa-
tives of all walks in life were includ-
ed in the subscribers to stock in the
company.
Mr.. B%ennighoff again took the floor
and said that all the new company de-
sired was a fair field and no fayors.
He portested against the insertion of
any clause restricting the new COM
pany to a maximum rate because no
such restriction was placed upon the
company already in the field
P. B. Moss followed in a defense
of the old company, in which he de-
clared that the charge of excessive
rates, made against the company,
was unfounded. Correspondence with
other electric lighting companies in
the state had established the fact that
the people of Billings were required
to pay less for their lights than those
of any other city in Montana. I'm,
less it could be shown that the pub.
lie would be benefited by the intro.
duction Of another lighting system
the new franchise should not be
granted. He recommended that a
maximum rate for lighting should be
inserted in the proposed franchise
and also that provisions should be
made compelling the furnishing OF
light at the lowest rate to all persons
who may wish to avail themselves OF
the opportunity.
o,~olho, ,f h;11o - .o11ouyoJ
The mayor said that the time had
arrived for advertising for bids fol
street %sprinkling. He recommended
the purchase of another sprinkler
one for use in the business portion and
the other two for the residence parl
of the city.
White moved that the clerk be in
structed to insert the required ad
vertisement, the time for sprinkling
to be from April 1 to November 1
Carried. A like motion by Connolly
lumber provoked an objection from
Stoddard, who believed that it would
be found advantageous to do withou
a sidewalk contractor and build al
walks by uay's labor. VI
Berky favored the contract system
saying walks could be built cheaper
if not better under the system thai
by following the Stoddard suggestion
!, This endeu the discussion and tn.
motion was carried. .
Attention was called by the mayo.
to the fact that the Archambo com
pany. to whom the contract was lie
, for heating the new city hall had 81
: far failed to sign the contract or give
: any other evidence of intention t.
f comply with the terms of the agree
!, ment. A dispatch sent to the com