Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1903-05-30
Town Council.

Wineland and AMMAN, representatives of
the company, were present they would
be able to state the object.
Mr.. Wineland took the floor and said
the purpose of the meeting was to have
the Council make a tive-year contract
with his company. The company had
arranged for this meeting and would pay
all the expenses incurred, as they had an
| engineer and an electrician coming on
| i'll few days to make considerable I'M
provements to their plant. Their i'm
/ provements would be very extensive and
of a nature that if the town wanted
light the proper thing to do was to make
the contract for five years. The town
would have to be re-wlred and lights
would be placed where the Light COM
mittee wanted them, and when the i'm
provements We're made they expected to
furnish light that would be equal to the
very best i'll the land.
Here he drew from his pocket a con-
tract, typewriter, and requested the
Clerk to read it to Council by sections.
After the reading Mr.. Johns moved,
and Mr. Richardson seconded the motion,
to accept the contract as presented.
Mayor Lammert, however, had few
words to say before this motion was sub
mitted. He asked Council-why this
rush for five-year contract? He said
he had not given this matter any
thought and doubted very much if any
gentleman of the Council had done So.
In his mind there was no occasion for
this hurry as the present contract with
the Electric company would not expire
till some time III August. Besides, there
is considerable thought TO be given a
matter of this kind-for instance, i'll this
contract the company does not say the
arc lights are to be 900 or :, 900 candle
power, and then there is Il great num-
Der of Just such discrepancies in this
agreement that Council should carefully
consider. He thought this special meet
ing was not ut all necessary; that the
meeting i'll June would afford plenty of
time to study the matter.
Mr. Wineland said they We're here to
have this matter settled tonight, and If
there was anything wrong about it they
would leave the matter with the town
attorney, who was present. They had
called this meeting and expected to eX
pend $50 or $50 paying fori it; so, natural
ly, they expected some action on this
contract. He was sure it was all right,
as it had been drawn by r. r. Hender
son. a lawyer of excellent repute, and he
insisted that Council give it their favor
able consideration tonight.
Mr.. Lammert repeated his conviction
that this matter was of great importance
to the town and he, for one, was not in
favor of rushing it. He thought it
should be left to the Light committee.
Mr.. Rank sand there was no prospect
for light or anything else to get cheaper,
and it would have been money in the
towns pocket if this contract had been
made year ago. He could not see why
anyone could be dissatified with this
contract, as he thought it was a good
one.
Mayor Lammert said the Light COM
pany has promised to put i'll new ma
chinery, though they did not say when
this would be done.
Mr.. Wineland said the work would be
done in reasonable time. He hoped
and expected to have it done by October.
The attorney, Mr.. Watson, said "a
reasonable time" could be decided by
summoning an expert, and on his testi
muny the court could decide what was "a
reasonable time"
Mr.. AMMAN said he was informed that
the Mayor was going away on Monday.
For that reason he hoped this matter
would be settled tonight.
The attorney suggested that Council
take recess and the Light committee
and the representatives of the company
retire to "A room and have the agreement
modified as desired.
This suggestion was not given any
consideration.
Mr.. Rank asked if the Mayor didn't
think the Electric Light company had "A
right to come to the Council with prices
for tive-year contract when the price
for five years would be So -, and if but
for one year it would be - Il lamp.
Mr.. Davis wanted to know what was
the objection to this tive-year contract:
He had sat in his chair listening to this
debate and had heard no good reason
why this contract should not be made.
If the Company had not lived up to for
mer contract, whose fault was it He
thought they had made all necessary
concessions and that this contract should
be made.
Mr.. Johns moved, and Mr.. Richardson
again seconded the motion, that the Light
committee meet the Electric Light com
pany's representatives and have contract
amended and signed bv 3 o'clock p. III.
tomorrow Saturday, 23d inst.,)
A yea and nay vote was taken and re-
suited as follows:
lcoS-Rank, Richardson, Krauss, Johns,
Davis, Lammert.
NoyS-Gritfith.
Luter-The Light -Messrs
Lammert Johns and Krouse, according
ly met the Electric Light company at
the First National Bank Saturday after
noon, and after considerable wrangling
Mayor Lammert declined to sign the
contract as presented by the company.
The two other members Johns and
krOuSe, signed.
What Mayor Lammert will do is not
known, as he left Sunday afternoon on
Il trip westward.
SIN Loter-Tuestlay evening, at i'll
stance and expense of the Light com
pany, another special was held III
Council Chamber.
All present except the Mayor.
Mr.. Johns called the assemblage to
order. In doing SO he suggested Mr..
Richardson for Mayor pro- tenn, and the
suggestion was adopted.
The object of the company in having
the meeting called was stated by Mr..
Johns, who had been entrusted with the
proposed 5-year contract with the Light
company.
This paper was read, in substance as
follows:
This agreement, made the 23d day of May,
1903. etc.
|, The town agrees to take 10 or more are
lights imprOVed patterns 2UN candle