The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-12-06
The FRANCHISE SETTLED
Local Company Was Granted an
Electric Eight franchise and Two
Gas Franchises Started.

The regular meeting of the city
council vas held Monday evening,
which was presided over by Mayor
Branson and The following aldermen
were present: Messrs. Koch, Curtis,
Koch, Reeves, Kelley, Burns and
Doyle.
The minutes OF the previous meet
ings vel read by Auditor Markham
and they stood approved.
The report Of Justice Herbert was
presented and showed that lines TO
the amount of BIO / ad been assessed,
of which S42 had been paid and the
court fees amounted to 1915 {. Weigh
master Mcdonald reported that his
fees as weiehmaster for the preced-
ing month amounted to s36. 90.
Treasurer Kibbee's October report
was aecepled and placed on file,
while his November report was re-
ferred to the finance committee.
The bill Of the Mitchell Gas Co.
for sa40.0 was not approved by the
finance committee, and was referred
to + e council for settlement, Which
amount was finally allowed
The bills against the city were
presented and those approved hv the
finance committee we're allowed and
warrants ordered drawn for their
payment.
Two new gas ordinances we're in
troduced at this time. Que vas by
Join Absher, Of Wagner, who asked
for a franchise to run twenty years,
and overs practically the same
features OF the present gas franchise,
with the exception that a rate of
ssl.25 j, made for acelylene gas per
hundred cubic leet and Sl.25 per
Thousand for other kinds Of gas. This
ordinance was placed on its first
reading. Another gas ordinance was
also Introduced behind which is a
company composed of j II. Morrow
and Austin Berry. of this city and
%. M. Sinclair, of Sioux City. There
are the same features in this ordi-
nance Is in the others, the matter Of
price being the only difference. This
ordinance places the price OF gas at
sl.50. The franchise was placed on
It's first reading and passed.
The ordinance giving the right to
the w. c. T.. y. to place a drinking
ountain on Second, "A venue east.
near Main. street, was brought up
for Its second reading and passage.
"A motion was made and prevailed
ttfat.aetionsoh thesordinancesbs pastM
poned until the next regular meeting.
Ordinance No. 215 was placed on
|itss:seconus reading and passed. This
ordinancesrefersftO the establishment
OF a new grade In the University
addition on the south side.
Ordinance No. 218 was placed on
Its. second reading and passage. This
is the; ordinance granting a twenty
year franchise TO a company Of men
OF this city who will take over the
holdings OF the Mitchell Gas Co..
The ordinance was placed on Its
second reading and was passed, and
wifi be Ia full force and effect after
approval and publication. The ordi-
nance WAS read section by section
and adopted in that manner. There
was no dissenting from the ordinance
except IN section 8, which was
amended TO state the time when the
lover Rates should 60 into effect. IA
limit Of four months was named
when the new rates should prevail.
There vas soce question as to
whether tht new company would be
able to secnle the property OF the
Mitchell Gas Co Or whether it
would have to build an entirely new
structure. They figured that In.
either event 1t would take at least
four mouths before the company
could get its Llant Into active work.
The pTanling OF this ordinance is
the result VI q long delay and the
City council has b.en wrestling with.
tbs problem for rearly a year. 1t
~ 0sASSluAUC1 NiiCt lIlC4 .H lUClItll I'tS
Co. as'sen for a renewal of It's fran
1chise, and a lower rate was named
than under the old franchise. G. @.
King was then at The head of the
clmpany and after the failure of his
ank and the succeeding events,
hereby the company was practically
takenE out Of his hands and n receiver
appointed. but little was done
toward that company endeavoring to
secure a franchise. The field Of
franchise was occupied by John
Absher aud several promoters from
Wagner who before the council
for some six or eight months with .
request for a franchise, In which
I hey agreed to furnish lights at a
lower price. In che past Month a
nuinher of capitalists OF this city
formed a corporation for taking over