The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1906-03-02

10 Inc MdyOi dhu Noihiuoh SophSii
of the City of Ow5sso:
Gentlemen:-
feel it a duty and matter of JUS
tice to myself and the interests reps
resent to address you in reference to
the extension Of the present franchise
of the Owosso and Corunna Electric
Company under consideration before
you.
City of Owosso contracted to lay GER
tain concrete stringers under the
Owosso and Corunna Electric Com
pany's tracks on West Main street and
South Washington Street. To this
contract a certain contract with the
Barber Asphalt Company was attach
ed, and was made part of the con-
tract by the City with the Owosso
and Corunna Electric Company.
This stringer construction was put in
by the City, and was condemned by
both the common council and the
City engineer. 1t was paid for by
the Owosso and Corunna Electric Co.
on December z, 1908, upon request
and demand of the City, and the Co.
holds the receipt of the City for the
amount paid for the work done.
The City also contracted to do the
paving between tracks for eighteen
inches on each side, and under this
contract the Owosso and Corunna
Electric Co. has already paid the City
some $4,000, and is liable for still
further sum of some $4,000 to be
paid in the next two years; and the
City has accepted from the Barber
Asphalt Co., a bond for $1,000 for
this stringer construction, and a
bond good for eight years for SIS,
600 for the paving.
AS the Owosso and Corunna Elec-
trio Co. now understands the matter
the City requests the Co. to tear up
it's tracks, and reconstruct them with
concrete base and tie construction.
From the estimate submitted by Mr..
Manning on two different kinds of
concrete construction, the cost in one
case amounts to $4,000, and in the
other to more than $4,000, for the
reconstruction work on West Main
street and South Washington street.
In addition to that the Owosso and
,Corunna Electric Company still to pay
the City $4,000 mentioned above.
Much as the Company desires an
extension of its present franchise in
Owosso, or a new franchise granted
to it, the Owosso and Corunna Elec-
trio Company can not pay so large a
sum of money for negligence of
others.
We are sure it is fair and honor
able obligation upon the City of
Owosso to make all repairs to
the stringer construction also the
pavement between the tracks and
eighteen inches on each side of
the tracks on West Main street and
South Washington street.
The Owosso and Corunna Electric
Company is living up to its contract
with the City and paying there under,
and 1t asks the City upon the basis of
simply justice to also stand firmly
by its contract.
1t is proper to say single word far
Their as a matter of justice about the
Company. 1t holds limited franchis-
es. 1t has invested large amount
of money in Owosso which has been
beneficial to the City. 1t has helped
to lift its character into a metropol-
itan community. 1t pays out for
and in wages, and has done
it for years every dollar taken in, and
has continued TO be putting in addit-
ional money. Not dollar of profit
has it derived from its investment
during the existance of the Company
in Owosso. Not a dollar OF interest
has been paid upon it's bonds in that
time. 1t has been granted franchises.
upon which it would not live were it
not for the circumstance that the Co.
has had sufficient means to make up
the annual deficit from the pockets
Of it's stockholders. The Company
puts to you as citizens interested in
the growth of your community. What
have you given this Co. out of which
any one has benefited exceptthe COM
itself? This Company must
lave living contract if it is toreceive
one, and as it has tried under disad-
circumstances to act fair
ly to the City, it asks that the City
should under these circumstances, act
fairly and literally towards the COM
pany
The Co. stands even with the dan
ger Of loss to bring new capital to
Owosso to link it with other COM
but it must have the en-
of at least a liberal
franchise. We beg to submit to you
the fact that it has never been able
to sell securely in Owosso to assist
IN the construction of this railway,
and why! because the citizens of
0wosso did not think it sufficiently
attractive as an Investment
This Company has written frankly
because it has stated truths, that it
s we'll for everyone to look honestly
md gravely at, because it cannot ac-
,ept the franchise that has been ex-
ended to it. Nor would any one of
you, whom we address, be willing un-
Ter similar circumstances to accept |
he ordinance which has been offered. |
IS it not possible that, in the interest
If all, the subject can be satisfactor-
1u