Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-01-02
Probably a Costly and Long
Drawn Out Litigation Will
Be Thrust Upon the City
REPEAL coMpANvs FRANCHISE
Mayors Plea With Council to Stop
Such Actions Against Fl. Dodge
Light and Power Company, Given a
Deaf Ear-Injunction Suit Probably
Will Be Filed.
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times Republican,.
Fort Dodge, Jan. 1T is probable
that the action of the city council at
it's meeting Monday night has brought
upon the city of Fort Dodge one of the
most costly and longest drawn out liti-
cations which has ever been thrust
upon the city, as result Of the re-
peal of the franchise under which the
Fort Dodge Light & Power Company
are doing business
The franchise was granted about sew
enteen years ago to S. L. Meservey,
citizen of Fort Dodge, or to his as
signs, by which they were to establish
| five years a lighting plant in this city,
the same to be the latest and most i'm
proved system and to at all times give
satisfactory service. For years the
city allowed the owners of the plant
to give such service as they were able
with the old machinery which had been
placed in the plant when 1t was built,
at times going without any service at
all. About nine months ago the plant
was purchased by the Child Hulswit
Co., of Grand Rapids, Mich, who at
once began to improve the same as
rapidly as possible. They have been
hampered in their improvements by
scarcity of labor, but in the time they
have owned the plant they have given
the city the best service it has ever
had, and at the present time have
$4,000 worth of new machinery on
the ground ready to be installed at the
earliest possible moment
The fore part of December Mr..
Clarke, the local manager of the COM
pany in this city, went before the coun-
Gil and informed them of the plans of
his company for the future, and also
stating in writing that early in Janu-
airy they would give the city of Fort
Dodge as good a service as that in any
city in the state of Iowa, and at a rate
that would enable all to use gas or cleo
tricity, while cheaper rate would be
made to large consumers OF the same
in order to bring new manufacturing
enterprises to the city.
al LIE Injecting VI eAAC Wy SOAAASs-
December II, the Fort Dodge Light &
Power Company, was given direct
slap in the face after their offer by an
attempt being made on the part of
some of the councilmen to repeal the
ordinance under which the company
was doing business This action was
warded off by the earnest pleas of
Mayor Bennett to the effect that such
- he
would only result in an injunction suit
being filed against the city and that
costly litigation would be brought on.
and that while the case was In the
courts the Fort Dodge Light & Pow
err Company would cease all improve
ments until the case was settled, thus
leaving the city with the same service
they have had in the past.
Since the meeting Of December IL
those in favor of repeating the fran
chise have worked early and late and
at the meeting last night the matter
was again brought to the attention OF
the council Again Mayor Bennett
sprang TO the breach, but he was UNI
able to do anything in the matter, and
after he had vacated the chair, and
Councilman Crawford had been APP
pointed, a vote was taken and it was
carried to annul the franchise. 1t is
now expected that an injunction suit
will be filed against the city tomorrow
morning, and the matter will be taken
into the courts.
1t is openly charged in the city that
the whole matter was brought about
by the demand made by a certain man
that the Fort Dodge Light & Power
Company should furnish him with
free electrical and gas service both, 1t
Is alleged, in his place of business and
in his home, also free coke to burn in