Albuquerque evening citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1905-1907, 1905-10-04
KANSAS ClTy'S FOUND
BEST FRANCHISE METHOD
Topeka State Capital
Topeka State Capital

1t is a wonder that no American city has heretofore
stumbled upon the right way to grant franchises. 1t has
remained for Kansas City to invent what now seems to
be the natural and proper way for such proceedings.
The usual method in which such things are worked
is for the city to wait until somebody comes along who
wishes a franchise for some purpose. He fixes up an
ordinance giving him what he desires and presents it
to the city council. The council haggles over it for a
while and usually gives the promoter what he asks, with
some slight notifications. If there are any corrupt mem
bers in the council it gives them a chance to hold up
The man who wants the franchise. And many honest
men are persuaded to vote against what they believe to
be the best interests of the city.
Kansas City has gone at the matter the other end
to. 1t wants natural gas and has had many propositions
for frachises, but it has not gone at the matter from the
standpoint of the promoter. The common council re-
garded the needs of the city rather than any franchise
that some promoter desired. The result is that it has
passed what is known as the Beardsley franchise, en-
bodying what was believed to be a gar agreement for
both the city and the company that should furnish the
gas. Having done that it offers the franchise to any
company that will put up a cash deposit of $4,000 and
a bond of S25O,000 that it will carry out its provisions. 1t
is now open to any company that desires to take adj
vantage of it.
By this means the franchise is framed with the
needs of the city in view rather than the wishes of any
franchise grabbers or promoters. Is not this the natural
way to grant franchises? The temptation to hold up
some corporation that wants a franchise is thus removed
and the city gets what it wants.
The Beardsley franchise is for thirty years, and it
permits the sale of natural and artificial gas which must
be suitable for heating and lighting purposes; the rate
for domestic purposes is fixed at 27 cents per thousand
cubic feet; for manufacturing purposes a sliding scale
Is made-l7 cents per thousand for the first million
cubic feet; IA IL for the next million of over, where
the consumer uses l IL million cubic feet; ~ cents
where the consumption has reached three million cubic
feet, and on up to five millions; 10 cents per thousand
cubic feet where the consumption exceeds five million.
All above rates are based on consumption per calendar
month. The above rates will he reduced at least 2 cents
per thousand cubic feet on all bills paid by the tenth day
OF the month for gas consumed the month previous.
Provision is also made that in event of any indication
of the exhaustion of the gas supply the manufacturers
are to be cut off from the supply before any action is
taken on domestic consumers. The company must pay to
the city 2 per cent of its receipts gross, and is permitted
to charge $12 per year for street lights.
The acceptance of the franchise is also conditioned
upon so miles of main being laid in the first year and
200 miles within two years. Should the company be com
PEELED to furnish artificial gas through the loss Of supply
of natural gas the rates are fixed at 80 cents per thous-
and cubic feet for lighting and So cents for heating.