Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1908-09-04
DODSON CONTRACT IS
DECLARED FORFEITED
BOARD OF TRADE
DISCUSSED CONTRACT

: OoICI udys IuSI Z WetA q ulH6ly uIluu-
tes discussion at the Board of Trade
meeting on Wednesday night rela-
tive to the proposed action on the
Dodson contract
In response to the request that he
make statement, Col Dodson re-
ferred to his card to the public pub
lished in the Times Recorder of We'd
nesday, and continued
IF we are let alone we will
carry out our contract with the City
in its entirety. Since the last meet
ing of this body l have had $4,000
placed in my hands, now in the
bank of Southwestern Georgia, and
it is being paid out on the work in
progress on our power house. / ex-
pect every day to receive word that
the final transfer of the old plants
has been made to the company / am
representing. We intend to carry OUT
the contract in every detail, and not,
as has been insinuated, only in part
The street railway will be constructed
in good faith
Il sincerely trust that the Board of
Trade, representing the best interests
Of Americus will give us a helping
hand and not seek to pull us down
just as we are about to realize what
we have been working for so many
months. This agitation has hurt us
a little and as it has created misap-
prehensions North We will ask
Council for an extension as it will
take several months, our engineer
tells us, to get the power house fin
ished and the plant installed and to
construct the four miles of street
railroad we are under contract to put
in. We are not asking this time in
which to begin the work, but in which |
to complete it. The beginning of the
work on the street-car line will be
in a short time. We are putting in
a plant not for today or next month |
or a year but for permanent work. |
Everything will be of the best, as
our people are making a permanent |
here. / would like the
public to see and understand what |
has already been done All our
plans look to the completion of every
feature of our contract with the city
as quickly as possible"
President Allen wanted to know |
if the company had the funds, and |
if the bonds had been placed.
In reply Col. Dodson stated that |
as fast as the work progressed the
proceeds of the bonds would be avail
able for the work of construction.
The bonds had been deposited with
the Scranton Trust Co. The con-
tract has been shown to Mayor Haw
kins and Mr.. Harold, but it was not
and not proper that it
should be shown to everyone as it
was a private matter, so far as
the financial arrangements NORTH
were concerned.
IF l find that cannot carry
through the whole contract with the
city" said Col. Dodson with en-
phasis, Il will give it up and it can
be given to some one else. But our
people are not going to fall down.
If they should, you will not find
anyone else will carry through the
contract as it now stands. People
are not begging to invest in stree.
railroads just at this time in small
cities, even with gas and electric
plants attached.
Mr.. c. ]. Clark inquired as to why
the gas rates had not been reduced.
Col. Dodson stated that inasmuch
as the plant had not been taken
over it was still in the hands of the
original owners, and he had no con
troll over the price. He hoped to
have it taken over in few days and
the reduced rates would go imme-
diately into effect. In fact he hoped
to have the reduced rate on gas dat
ed from August J. Mr. Clark and
Hollis Fort, Esq, thought that mas
much as the plant is still owned
and directed by Messrs. Harold the
matter of a reduction in the price |
of gas should be put squarely up toi
City Council, and that body should |
take the matter up with the present |
President Allen directed 7
attention to the fact that the matter |
is now before the railroad CommIs
sion.
Mr.. Frank Sheffield thought the
real issues were the reduction of the |
price of gas, which was plainly be-
yond the control of Col. Dodson, and |
the giving of forfeiture bond that
would satisfy the people. He did
not believe the Board of Trade or |
the City Council had any right to
pry into the private financial ar
rangements of the promoters of the
new company, but council had a
right, he thought, IN extending the
time of the contract to protect the |
people by insisting on a forfeiture
bond in the event of failure to carry
out all of the provisions of the
contract
others present took the same view
of the matter. When the Fort reso-
lutions were introduced, though, Mr..
Sheffield believed that the matter /
could be we'll left in allegiance until
after the meeting of Council. The |
of Council, he pointed out, |
were we'll aware of the feelings of
the public and did not need to be