Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1906-12-14
STATEMENT TO BOARD OF
TRADE OF AMERlCUS
Made by Joseph n, Roman at Meeting If Board on
18th, as to Electric Plant and Street Hallway.

Board relative to the installation of an
electric plant and street railway in
Amer1cus by himself and associates, as
follows:
Il will say few words in the inter
ests Of the proposed electric street rail
way and the allied electric utilities,
electric light and electric power as set
forth in the circular letter issued by the
Board of Trade today. A mere state
ment of the contents of our proposal, of
cur position and guarantees that we
make to assure you of the integrity of
cur proposals, is set forth in the issue
of the Times Recorder of today, Deem
Der IL, 1906.
LAS you observe, this matter is now
in the hands of the Committee of Lights
and Water of your City Council, to
whom it was referred at the time of
the presentation of our original petition
in September, and who are now con-
sidering completed grants of rights and
contracts as set forth.
I'VE anticipate that these will be
placed before the Council of the city at
the regular meeting of the Council on
Thursday next, and when satisfactory
to that body, they will go the people
for ratification, in the manner as out
lined by Judge Fort for ratification by
two-thirds popular vote.
"Our purpose, then, in bringing this
matter to your attention at this time, is
to secure the support of the representa-
tive commercial interests of Americas,
TO have your body go on record as to
real existing necessity for the public
utilities we have to offer, to satisfy you
as to the economical considerations of
our propositions, and to secure the
widest possible publicity lat the earliest
moment, for it is with the public with
whom we will eventually have nearly
all our business dealings.
For these purposes, we will consider
as fully as possible, in these few min
utes. the nature of our proposals, and
compare them with like service rem
dered elsewhere.
I'VE have at the suggestion of the
City Council presented two ordinances
for their adoption-one granting us
permission to build and operate an
electric light and power plant with
system of wires on the public streets
10 distribute electric light and power
and tie other granting us the right to
build and operate an electric street
railway system.i
These ordinances simply give us
the right to build and operate, under
the supervision of Council, these works
on the city streets.
eve have agreed to have completed
plants and systems in operation, one
year after such rights are assured u.s.
For detailed information on these and
other points, attention is invited to
copies of these ordinances, which we
have deposited with your secretary.
1T would be our purpose to build in
the city of Americas for the purpose of
supplying electric power for street
railway, and for sale for general power
and lighting, power house of most
modern and economical design.
IAN investment of this nature, sell
ing as its product power, what to other
industries is but a minor step in manu-
facture, to succeed, must be built, as
you can imagine, to secure every posi-
bic economy in making its power-and
you can readily see, that due to the
fact that street railway will be a new
departure and the industries requiring
the power which we hope to supply
are, but to a small extent-at present
located here, a plant of this nature
would be poor investment were it not
for the private lighting custom which
we hope to build up, and for the fact
that the city of Americas, in it's cCrpO-
rate capacity, finds that it is expedient
and to its interest to make a contract
for the purchase of electricity for the
supply of public street lights, and for
power to operate the water works.
The opportunity to make this con
tract is the inducement that impels us
10 build plant along the lines we
have just described and especially one
with a view to future extension and
engagements.
1T is therefore to this contract with
The City Of Americas that [ ask your
attention.
1.-THE first important consideration
that concerns the City is the price of
arc lamps for the lighting of public
streets. Our proposition compares
very favorably, and is better than that
of many larger cities in Georgia and
Alabama.
Under the terms or our contract we
agree to light the City with the first