Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-06-11
Council Passes Ordinance
Granting Franchise on
First Reading

| Attorney Ritter determined that 1
was 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 be attended the
meeting that night just as the news
papers did, and Mayor Mcconnell mad
| said that night that kills it," Mr.
| Casey will pardon the Herald for say
ing that he became too serious last
evening Mr.. Casey no doubt has the
interests of his constituents at heart
can render no better public service
than assisting the present council in
shaping It's action so that ordinary
individuals will be able to compre-
hend what is really meant.
A resolution was passed establish
ing sewer district No. l. the bounds
OF which mag be learned in an ordi.
nance. 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
chise Tuesday night. He said Mayor
Mcconnell had tried to shove the
measure right through without giving
aroused his suspicious. He thought
too many franchises had been hur-
siedly given away; that the fran
chise sought might be worth 100000
in a few years. He was uualterably
in favor OF municipal ownership. and
opposed to the ownership of public
utilities by corporations: but he be-
lieved 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
maximum rate for arc lights too high.
Alderman Hanno had a dozen let.
ters from other cities In Colorado
of Durango's class, showing what
charges were for lighting. Among
them Fort Collins and Florence cnarge
IS 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 sS for all night.
Alderman West said he thought the
city now had 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 If not worse.
He wanted to know If the franchise
could not be so worded that 1t could
not be sold. Attorney Reese said
tnat such questions always arose
when franchises were applied for,
and that ne thought that having been
granted Mr. LOTUS could sell it IL
he wanted to. Mr. Berndt said 1t
would be desirable to the city to pre-
guI,
of construction of the plant at least.
Alderman Balster said he was still
OF the opinion that the franchise, If
granted, should provide for the com
pany or corporation paying the city
a royalty.
Mayor Mcconnell said that wnen he
first proposed municipal ownership OF
lights and power the inquiry regard
ing cost elsewhere had begun. that
he had concluded after that the city
was not prepared financially to own
Its own plant, but that under the
terms of the franchise under consid
GRAFTON the city would have the right
to purchase the plant proposed. This
was in reply to Mr. Casey's reference
TO the mayors speech favoring mu
unicipal ownership when ne was in
augurated.
Mr.. Berndt said he would like tc
have the G-ampere light clause chang
ed; that he feared 1t would not bt
| adequate. Attorney Ritter said the
proposal guaranteed 2.000-candlt
power light. The proposed franchis,
ordinance was again read; few mod
ihcations were made and 1t was adopt
ed without a dissenting vote.
When the sewer question was agair
under discussion Attorney Ritter ask
ed If all property within the sewe
district would be taxed for that pur
pose. Attorney Reese said he so un
derstood 1t.
Before the final passage of the ligh
franchise which-is is embodied In ordl
nance No. 430. Mr.. Berndt desired t,