The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-03-10
GAS FRANCHISE
WAS VETOED BY MAYOR
BARNES
Believes that Interests of the
City are Not Properly
Guarded.

Last nieht at the regular meeting OF
the city council. the gas franchise which
had been given to Bencdum and Trees Of
Pittsbure. Pa. by an almost unanomous
vote o. the members present at the last
meeting. was vetoed by Mayor Barnes
Mayor Barnes submitted the following
explanation as TO Why he did not approve
tho franchise:
To the Honorable City Council;
Gentlemen: ! herewith return 10 your
honorable body without my signature an
ordinance entitled "An ordinance grant
/ ing to the Benedum q J. G. Trees, their
associates and assigns. the right and
/ privilege Of furnishing natu~ gas for
the purpose OF lighting the streets and
/ furnishing heat, light and power for do
nestle. manufacturing. and other pur-
poses. and lighting and maintaining and
/ operating OF pipes and appliances there
/ for in the city OF Guthrie. Oklahoma Ter
/ ritory,"
MY objection to this ordinance briefly
stated is az follows.
Section /, granting the franchise does
not limit the term thereof which Is re-
Quired by the statutes Of the territory.
The phraseology OF the ordnance gem
I orally IS bad ard could be much improved
by the exercise OF little care and the
employment Of intelligent Legal counsel
to draft the ordinance.
Section g. fixing maximum price at
which gas may be furnished to the city
and inhabitants thereof for the period
OF twenty-one t2l) years should IN my
Judgment be amended so as to provide
that an natural gas needed for the pur-
pose OF heating and lighting the city
buildings including fire stations and pub
lie library. should be absolutely free TO
said city and should further provide
that in case natural gas should be pro-
duced within fifty or twenty-five miles
Of this city that the rates provided for
individual consumers and 10 the city for
street consumption should be graduated
accordingly.
Under prescst conditions the piping OF
natural gas 90 thsi cit ywould cost with
In me neighborhood OF one million dol-
lars for the piping. the plant and the
pumping stations necessary to convey tho
gas through the pipes,
1t does not seem to me TO be excess
sive under these circumstances TO ask
said company to deposit with the city
the sum Of FIVE thousand $4,000 dollars
as a guarantee Of the good faith and on-
tcntion OF said company 90 at once con-
struct a plant and piping necessary Ia
carry the same into effect The said
sum OF money so deposited might be re-
turned to the company upon the expend-
iture Of ten thousand ts1O, ,O0O) dollars IN
the construction OF said work.
car. see no good results 10 the city
by granting more than one natural gas
franchise. It is my opinion that whil,
the territorial statutes do not permit us
, no grant exclusive franchises that an.
contract that may be entered into be
tween the city and those who invest theil
capital In public enterprises should be-
made upon such terms as viii be o
( benefit to the city ana its inhahitepts
5 and under which. the investors should b'
p protected In their investment until sucl
time at least as II is made to appeal
profitable to them.
Z Another thing should be provided IL
] this ordinance. The grantees should b
q required 20 hle a map showing the pro
posed route OF their pipe line 10 this citl
within reasonable time. ] have no oh
, lection 10 the provision. .equiring tn
, grantee to commence work within ninet.
4 900 days Of the passage and approval o
this ordinance, but ! believe they shout
be required 10 have certain number o
miles OF pipe laid and ready for opera
% tiou within six 90 months thereafter
to the end that said franchise may no
embrace the city more than that lcngt
OF time. in case the grantees find It i'm
possible to comply with their contract
desire TO say that ! am ready an
e more than willing TO approve Of an
10 reasonable franchise granted to ANY re-
3 sponsibie parties who win give US rea
" sonable assurance that they are able {
carry out She contract they assame. Thl
ordinance requires no security and give
o no assurance whatever Of the ability g
o The parties named. and none has bee
= hled with the city clerk Of their abilit
# to carr OUT this contract II they ca
give as evidence Of good faith and imam
ciai ability, and the contract can b
10 amended along the lines I have suggested
n will be glad to approve the same.
] Very respectfully
e c. NJ. BARNES.
D. Mayor
The matter of granting q franchise vi
be further considered and Mayor Barne
] HNl0ANNfN NlAN NNilNMilNb NhNAANANAfN
make investigation. Councilmen Tall
- man. Barker and Walker,
A resolution was adopted that u N
present board OF county commissioner
.e will carry out their agreement 10 ere'
! steel bridge putting in the necessar
n noofing az Island park, the city build
,f ing the abutments. that the city sba
In agree 10 waive an claim and release tt
county from any obligation 90 the cit
for money loaned 10 the county by n
city either for the building Of Nob
avenue bridge or the grading done
the city FOR the county high school
The matter of locating eleven ne
electric arc lights was left TO the ole'
trio light committee
The city health officer was instructs
20 strictly enforce the hog ordinance
The committee appointed 20 deterniT
upon the assessment for paving q
alleys IN blocks IS and 40 Guthrie Prope
and ~ East Guthrie. made their repor
n Il was announced By the mayor thi
the services Of the two men recent
added 10 the police department would
, dispensed with on March 18th.
The hre wagon matter came up Z
~ discussion and two bids for repairir
the No 2 FIRE wagon were rejected. y
H. Drummer for $4,000 and the Oklahou
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