Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-06-11
New Light Franchise
Granted by City Council

At the adjourned meeting OF the
sity council last night all members
were present The city attorney and
Attorney Ritter determined that 1t
was a regular meeting and then Mr..
Casey roasted the daily newspapers
for misrepresenting the action of the
council last Tuesday evening In the
matter of the franchise. but at At
torney Ritter said he had understood
the situation when he attended the
meeting that night just as the news
papers did. and Mayor Mcconnell mad
said that night that kills it," Mr..
Casey viii pardon the Herald for say.
evening. Mr. Casey no doubt has the
interests OF his constituents at heart,
and this being quite true he probably
can render no better public service
than assisting the present council in
shaping its action so that ordinary
hend what Is really meant.
A resolution was passed establish
ing sewer district No. /. the bounds
of which may be learned In an ordi-
nance. A committee was requested
to confer with the Rio Grande for
right OF way. There appeared TO have
been some unauthorized changes
made in original plans, and this was
intermingled with good deal OF talk
about the Stilwell sewer.
Attorney Ritter said he had been
invited to attend the meeting OF last
night to take up again the matter Of
franchise for Thomas LOTUS for
light and power privileges In the city.
Mr. Casey explained to the council
his action in voting against the fran
chlse Tuesday night. He said Mayor
Mcconnell had tried to shove the
measure right through without giving
time to look into 1t and that mis- had
| aroused his suspicions He thought
too many franchises had been hur-
| riedly given away; that the fran
chise sought might be worth 100000
| in few years. He was unalterably
! In favor OF municipal ownership, and
| opposed to the ownership OF public
utilities by corporations; but he be-
lieyed now that Durango was not pre-
| pared to establish its own lighting
plant. and would support the franchise
| applied for. He thought IS as the
J maximum rate for arc lights too high.
| Alderman Hanno had a dozen let
| iers from other cities In Colorado
Of Durango's class, showing what
| charges were for lighting. Among
them Fort Collins and Florence charge
| $S for arc lights; Canon City, with
| plenty of coal at her door. charges
$3.50; Buena Vista. further from coal
than any other town mentioned.
charges $50; Trinidad, $40 till
midnight. or IS for all night.
Alderman West said he thought the
city now mad show to get cheaper
light, and that he would like to see
the franchise granted with slight mod
ification.
Alderman Berndt said that when the
franchise was granted Mr.. Lotus or
his assigns might sell it to the old
company or to the lockwood com
pany, and that the city would be in
the same position as now II not worse
He wanted. to know II the franchise
could not be so worded that II could
not be sold. Attorney Reese said
that such questions always arose
when franchises were applied for
and that ne thought that having beer
! granted Mr.. LOTUS could sell 1t Il
he wanted to. Mr.. Berndt said Il
would be desirable to the city to pre-
: vent sucn sale before the completion
f. of construction OF the plant at least
Alderman Balster said he was still
7 OF the opinion that the franchise.
granted, should provide for the com