Omaha daily bee., 1905-09-14
No MONEY TO BUY VOTES
suOh is Greeting Of olsvsland'tS Seeking
Gas Franchise in Omaha
AGENT SAYS ONLY FAIR DEAL GOES
Puts Matter Up to the People and
Will Address the City
Council Thursday
Morning.

Frank NJ. Gregg OF Cleveland, o., who is
representing a syndicate of men who have
applied for gas franchise In Omaha, gave
out an interview Wednesday morning at
the Her Grand hotel
The granting of the franchise and its
complement of 81 gas is up to the people
Of Omaha" said Mr. Gregg. III the peo-
pie want us to have the franchise and put
in the plant and the council is unwilling to
have the question submitted to an election
they will have to get their representatives
in the council chamber in line. l will
not spend a cent here buying votes OF try
ing to get the franchise by any other than
plaiu, straight business methods.
This is a business proposition. We are
going to play our cards on top Of the table.
The matter is a simple one-either the peo-
pie want what we propose to give or they
do not want II. Unless we can get this
franchise on a commercial basis we DO
not want It, Our people in Cleveland will
not put their morey into gas plant here
unless they see II is a safe investment We
are not here to bla ackmail the Omaha Gas
company. Our proposition is genuine and
bona fde in every respect. II we can't
build the plant we have no use for the
franchise We DO not desire any rights for
the purpose OF selling them out. II we get
a franchise we shall use It.
Plenty Of Capital.
Cleveland is a rich city and there are
many capitalists there looking for good
investments. The men who want to put
in a competing plant here have received
reports from engineers who have been put
ting in gas plants in western cities They
expect to spend from $75OOOo to $1OoO,ooO
and possibly more. II necessary. in this en-
rad N
1000. 900 or more, for their resources for
this purpose are practically unlimited. The
names of the capitalists will not be made
public now, but will be in time It Is
likely they will admit Omaha capital after
the company is organized, but there is not
a single dollar of Omaha money pledged
for the deal at this time.
These men are satisfied they can sell
gas for Illuminating and fuel in Omaha
| for 81 per 1000 cubic feet and make money
They will not make their investment. how
ever without a franchise running more
than twenty-five years. They will pay the
city a royalty on gas consumption on a
larger percentage basis than the Omaha
Gas company is paying, and will contract
with the city 10 supply gas for street
| lighting a less than the commercial rates
The company will not attempt to furnish
the lamps. For this service the Cleveland
Street Lighting company, which will not
be interested, as a corporation in the
! syndicate, will have the same chance as
anyone else.
| The Cleveland company has recently per-
fected an automatic lighting device for
gas lamps, which will do away with the
use of men and boys and cheaper the main
tenance great deal. The advice is
operated by mechanism or clockwork
wound up every ten days. It lights and
extingushes the lamps at given hours
| THE matter Of, giving a bond to secure
the faithful performance OF the undertake
ing assumed by the company in the fran
chse is a phase of the matter that had
not been brought up when left Cleveland.
l have no doubt that the syndicate will
be perfectly. willing to bond itself in this
| way
II have been sent here to get this
| franchise II I can. With the assistance
| of fair treatment by the city officials and
the wish of the citizens Of Omaha hope
to get It."
Among Mr. Gregg's credentials Is one
! from Vice President ]. F. Harper OF the
Union National bank OF Cleveland, the bank
of which the late Mark Hanna was presi-
dent for many years. Mr.. Harper assures
Omaha city officers that Mr.. Gregg rep
resents men well able TO carry out the
scheme and of Mr.. Gregg's personal re-
sponsibility and trustworthiness.
The council will hear the promoter
| Thursday morning at 10 o'clock in the counr
ell chamber, A large delegation of citizens
will be present from indications.