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

II v IN SAty - oASS s~AJ
cases to sparsely settled portions,
where the business did not justify the
expense, but we have deemed it a
duty to furnish, as near as we could,
all who applied for lights and with
out any discrimination. Now, we sub
nit that it would not be fair to our
company, nor to the citizens, to grant
to this new company a franchise with
out requiring them to extend their
lines and furnish light at the low
rates that they propose, to all the
citizens of the town who may de-
mand it; otherwise, if only the bust
ness portion of the town is covered
and,the residence portion OF the town
which is less profitable, is left to the
mercy of our company, the natural
result will be that rates for this class
of lighting will be raised to offset
the loss in the business portion OF the
CITY. This is a condition that the
council should guard against. If the
interests of all of the citizens are to
be considered.
The present contract for lighting
the city streets expires at the same
time as the water contract, five. years
hence, and under the provisions OF
the water contract the city has the
option of purchasing the water works
or renewing the contract. If the city
purchased the water works it might
be desirable to purchase the lighting
plant as well and a franchise grant
ed for a longer time than five years
might work as a disadvantage to the
city in carrying out any plans of that
kind.
We think j, will be conceded by all
that in a small town like Billings n
plant can be operated cheaper than
two. This being the case, it might
be a business proposition on the part
of the council to investigate the prices
charged here and in other western
cities and draw comparisons. 1t might
also be of interest to the citizens to
investigate as we'll as to whether cleo
trio lighting plants as a rule are pay
ing investments. If this is done in
a fair and impartial way, and it
should be found hat rates here are
lower than in most western cities
and also that electric lighting plants
are, as a rule, not making money. 1T
might furnish the council sufficient
reason to hesitate as to the wisdom
of allowing another company to in
stall a plant, thereby increasing the
cost of production and demoralizing
the business, resulting in only a tenn
porary lowering of prices, with a sub
secuent raise above what they other
wise would be.
In presenting this matter to the
council we wish to call your atten-
ton to the fact that we have done
so in a dual capacity; first as officers
of the Billings Water Power company,
representing their interests, and sec
ond as citizens, representing large
~tax-paying = vests independent of
that corporation, and we might say,
personally, we are more largely in
terested in the latter capacity than
in the former.
Finally. we have to request that
you take time to give this matter
careful and impartial consideration.
There is no occasion for haste and
it is better to think twice before act
ing than to act first and find when
it is too late that you have made a
mistake. .'
Hoping that we have made clear
to you the ideas we have in mind and
thanking you for your consideration
we remain, respectfully yours,
Billings Water Power Co.
P. b. Moss, Vice-President.
H. w. Rowley, Secretary.
deferred to ordinance committee
without debate.
The ordinance committee submitted
an amended bill for an ordinance
granting to l.. l.. Moffett a franchise
for a telephone system. The bill was
amended in accordance with the rec
ommendation of the council as agreed
upon at the last preceding meeting
other changes.
A recess of five minutes was taker
to enable the committee to confer or
che bill.
When the council reconvened the
committee reported in favor of grant
ing the petitioner 81 Ndays in which tt
accept the franchise and that he be
given nine months in which to built
and operate the system. Adopted.
White now moved that the ordi
nance be placed upon it's passage
Carried. The roll was called on pas
sage Of the bill. All the aldermen vot
ed yea and the ordinance was de
clared passed.
A bill was now read for an ordi
nance granting a franchise to tn
Billings & Musselshell Telephone
company. Referred to ordinance ant
street committees.
A similar bill for an ordinance grant
ing a franchise to the Montana {
Wyoming Telephone company wa
now read. Connolly moved a recess
of five minutes for consideration o
the bill. also the one for a franchis'
to the Musselshell company. The me
ton prevailed and both bills were sui
mitted to the ordinance committee.
Tp0n r~pcOnvaninY of the cOunci