The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1907-10-24
A ST RONG
ARGl JVIE.NT'
Against Granting Electric Light
Franchise Made by Mr..
ghcGeorgr.
by ID. w. McGEoRGE.

by ID. w. McGEoRGE.
The Clarksburg Electric Light
Company is asking for renewal. OF
its Franchise by changing the two
words twenty years. SO as to read
'hfty years." They have made
such a radical change that 1t nigh.
properly be called an application for
new franchise.
From previous experience do
not believe our present city council
has the proper appreciation in the
difference in value between twenty
and fifty. year franchise. a few,
months ago the South Penn Oil Com
pany applied for fifty year fran
chise to erect poles from the center
of the city to their works at Indus
trial. The council seemed careless
about 1t, and granted them the fan
ehise without asking them TO take
II for shorter time.
When talking to some OF the
councllmen about the matter. and
EXPLAINING to them that ffty-year
franchise should never be granted
nnder any circumstances. they seem-
ID not to grasp the situation.
This is where our danger is.
Without, realizing thatr-tirey. are
giving away property worth at ;aa.t
a million dollars. our counc.lmea
may as-likeIy vote another fifty-year
franchise. This burden once placed
npon us. we will never be able TO
lay 1t upon the ground. But lay i,
IN the backs of our children. who
in turn will lay. 1t upon our grand
children. and the sixteenth day of
December. 1857. will thereafter he
celebrated as Emancipation Day.
In estimating the value of this
franchise. the element of chance and
the contingencies OF the future are
so predomlnating, and no man can
say that his estimate is correct bu,
1t is safe TO say more will shoe. un.
der than over.
Ii all conditions should remaia as
they are. 1t would be valuable
franchise. One can hardly conceive
of a change by which the people
would be benefited.
In throwing the die the people
|'may not lose hut can never win. The
company may not win but caa never
lose.
II in the next few years process
is found. by which electricity can be
produced for one-fourth OF It's pres.
ent cost, that will multiply the value
OF the franchise by more than four.
When our population has increas-
ed to $4,000. we may multiply that
by four. AS people we WILL be-
come greater consumers. Those
who know most about 1t say We will
before many years be consuming
electricity both in our heating aud
cooking Stoves. Thinl, of tie in
creased consumption, also the IN
creased revenue for the company.
We may safely multiply our last
product by four. There will have Il.
These changes will come abou. in
the next Very few years. and. when
they do, you can multiply the pres
ent value of the franchise CHASING 1t
upon Its present revenues), by sixty
four. and then you will lie under
rather than over its real value.
Others may differ from me but !
firmly believe events and conditions
will so shape themselves that this
franchise. If granted. will show in
the last twenty years OF its life a
value of five millions of dollars. A
confiagration Involving that much
loss would he felt more sharply for
the present. but IT would be forgot
ten In twenty-five years. while this
franchise would still have quarter
of century to eat and gnaw.
want to Sc all wake up, food the
press with protests and demand that
our servants. the city councilmen,
protect our property.