The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-04-12
WITHDREW the ORDINANCE
Mitchell Gas Co. Withdrew Its Ac.
ceptance Of Electric Light
Franchise Ordinance.

An adjourned meeting of the city
council was held Tuesday evening,
at which was present Mayor Bran
son, and Aldermen Duncan, Kings,
Curtis, Wallace, Reeves, Burns and
Wells.
The special business to be taken
up was the presentation of a request
of the Mitchell Gas Co. to withdraw
it's acceptance of the electric light
franchise ordinance, which was
passed several weeks g by the
council. Under the terms of the new
ordinance there was a 25 per cent
reduction in the price to the con-
sumers of lights and a lower rate es-
tablished for lighting the city by arc
lights, and also the city was t O ben
eft by three per cent of the gross
earnings of the company being
turned into the city treasury. The
statement made by the company was
to the effect that it could not operate
with any profit to itself under the
new ordinance and desired to be re-
leased. By a unanimous vote of the
council the company was permitted
to withdraw it's acceptance, and the
matter stands now just as it did be-
fore any action was ever taken on
the new franchise ordinance.
There had been such a fight made
on the franchise, in which Mr.. King
had been personally attacked, that
it appeared that the people did not
care to receive the benefits under
the new ordinance and as a conse
quence they will be permitted to pay
the old rate for the coming three
years at least, during the remainder
of the life of the old ordinance. He
felt that in the discussions that had
been going on concerning the fran
chise ordinance that he had been I'M
justly attacked personally and that
thee attacks helped to lead up to
the closing up of the Scotland bank,
with which he was connected.
OF course it is some question
whether the ordinance would have
been successful under the referen-
dun vote at the coming election, but
inasmuch as the city was to receive
a coed benefit in lower rates for arc
lights and also a three per cent rev-
enue of the gross receipts, and the
citizens we're to receive lower rates
for incandescent lights, they will be
the loser for at least during the five
years that the contract was to run.
Mr.. King stated that the company
would operate under the old fran
chise, and that there would be no
diminution in the service given the
city and that the plant would not be
allowed to go back in the least, for
it was to the interests of the COM
pany to keep the plant in the best
possible shape as a protection for
! their investment.
The council had under discussion
a settlement with Silas Blauvelt, of
Sioux Falls, representing the Van
Fps estate, concerning the ground
over which flows the residue of the
septic tank. Mr.. Blauvelt insists
that the council must take care OF
that residue and offers the free use
of the ground of the estate through
which to lay a w to conduct the
residue. This morning the entire
council went over the ground with
Mr.. Blauvelt and this afternoon a
session is being held to make a con-
tract with Mr.. Blauvelt for the use
of the ground.
Alderman Reeves, of the cemetery
committee, made a report to the
council concerning what the Ladies
Cemetery Association would like to
have done, viz: the construction OF
a woven wire fence on the east and
south sides of the cemetery. Alder.
man Reeves recommended that this
be done. The council authorized the
cemetery committee to have the
Work done.
John Absher, of Wagner, appeared
before the council concerning the
electric light franchise ordinance
which he desires passed by the coun.
Gil. An ordinance had been pre-.
pared and was read by Alderman
Burns, not for the purpose of plac.
ing it on its first reading but merely
to acquaint the council with its pro.
visions. The ordinance is practic
ally the same as that adopted for the
Mitchell Gas Co., with the exception
of lower rates for the consumers an,
for the city using arc lights. Mr.
Absher made a brief statement tc
the council relative to his desire tt
place an electric light plant in Mitch
ell, and did not have any hesitanc.