The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1907-07-16
EIGHT ARE KILLED IN
BATTLESHIP EXPLOSION

turor who was willing to aid In
financing the undertaking. proyld.
cd The Star would lend it's In
ilueneo 10 assist IN procuring the
franchise.
This the editor Of ThD Star
promised 20 do, provided the ap.
plieants would permit him 20 write
In the franchise condition that
gas would never be sold for a price
TO exceed $t3s a thousand feet.
which Mr. elise. after taking the
matter up with Mr. Smith by wire.
agreed TO.
fhereupon a franchise was pre-.
pared Ia the name Of X. "A. Ma.
lone, running for period OF 80
years, and introduced IN the coun.
gu By Councilman Vincent ~ De.
oemher 3. 1900
IL was referred TO the corpora
tlona committee, Of which VIII "a.
Parry was chairman. ~ which com
mittea Il encountered latter oppo.
sition. but from which Il was FIN
ally reported. with amendments. on
May q. 1901
Watch dos" James A. James
and Councilman W. V. .Rlnohart
opposed it 10 the end. even to alb.
senting themselves from the COIN
ell on June II, when Il secured
final passage.
Councilman Tommy" Navin.
with his characteristic adherence
for long time franchise grants. o..
Tered a motion that the limit OF the
grant be made Is. instead OF 90
years. but the motion was lost.
Ten days after the franchise was
granted. Il was transferred by Mr.
Malone to ). W. elise. who. In turn.
transferred II. In February, 1909.
TO the newly organized Citizens
iight q Power company.
The company engaged as IS
manager MIR G r Collins. n noted
gas manufacturing expert. who had
been brought from the east by
sam aill to manage the old com
pany
Collins proceeded to Install q
competing gaa plant Sam Hill. az
president 81 the old company, la.
lerposed every possible obstacle In
the path uf his prospective com.
pelltoF. eniolning 1t In the courts.
knocking its securities ia the
financial markets and condnctiLE
a vigorous campaign for the pnr'
pose uf dlAcredlting II before the
public
hut. despite all opposition the
new company proceeded with the
installation 81 ice plant.
HHl Plays last Card.
When the Citizens Light &
Power company was about ready
90 begin supplying It's first custom.
ers. Mf IAN played his last card.
which was 10 cut the rate on gas.
selling lt Ga customers in al, com.
petislye district for 80 cents a
thousand feet. while be charged
customers In the uon.compctltivc
district 81 80 a thousand
The ues company promptly met
the Se.cent price and began To- So.
cure customers a. rapidly az Il
extended lie mains
Mr. ulls company was heavily
uvercapltaiiked, as the result ~
expensive hiundefs in construction
under various mnnAgcmentk, and
the reduction Ia price hit him the
hardest lie continued. however.
10 wage the unequal flRhl for sew.
efni months. when. unknown tu
him. bis associates IN The COM
pany. James ] Hili and J y Far
reii. opened up negotiations with
the Citizens company, which re-.
suited ia the sale ~ the old plant
10 It's competitor at valuation ~
81 500 600
Consolidation having been peg
fecfed under the title u The Seat.
lie Lighting company. the price Of
gas was promptly put back 10
si.as per thousand feet. with q dis.
count Of 20 per cent for prompt
payment. making Il 81 thousand
feet net. tire price for which The
Star had made its fiaht
One 81 the enthusiastic support.
ers attracted BY The Star 10 the
fight for dollar gas" vas Victor
r. Palmer. = struggling young az.
turney. Who. IN addition 20 render
ing valuable assistance Ia marshal.
Ing the facts essential for the
prosecution Of the campaign. in
duead the attorney general Of the
state 10 bring an action attacking
the old coinpany'a perpetual fran.
chiae IN the state courts. n suit
witch. for a while at least. scri.
oualy embarrassed the officers of
ihc monopoly