The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-02-08
FRANCHISE FOR TERM OF 80 YEARS
is GRANTED TO GAS & ELECTRIC GO.
Several Changes Are Made Be-
fore City Council Agrees
to Grant Franchise.

This action was taken after a num-
Der OF meetings and a thorough dis
cussion of the question.
The company first applied for a
renewal of its old franchises, which
had no limitations, and asked that
they be extended for period Of fifty
years. The application for renewal
was rejected by the council, but at
the same meeting that body referred
the question to the ordinance com
mittee. which later brought in an
ordinance with a number of restric-
tions and limitations. 1t was for
fifty years and the sum of $40. 900
was to be paid the city. However.
this ordinance was not altogether sat
isfactory to the council, the belief
prevailing generally that the term
was too long, and Friday night
Councilman. Robbins offered a sub
stitute ordinance as an amendment.
Substitute is offered.
The substitute was read. 1t differed
materially in several. Important par
ticulars from the ordinance first Of
fered. One of these differences was
that the term of the franchise be 80
years instead of so. Another was
the money consideration which was
placed at $2S, 900 instead of $4,000,
of which $4,000 is to be paid on ac-
ceptance of the ordinance and the
remainder in $1,000 annual INSTALL
ments in advance until paid.
After the reading of the substitute
Councilman johnson made strenuous
objection to immediate passage and
made motion that the clerk have
twelve copies of It made and furnish
ed to the members Of the council and
that the same be referred to the or
dinance committee to be reported
back to council at ts,next meeting.
Councilman MoReynolds seconded his
motion. The motion did not prevail,
johnson, Connell and McReynolds
voting for it and all other members
of the council voting against it.
Amendment Ruled Out.
Johnson then offered an amend
ment to the effect that the company
be required by the city to extend its
wires along any street Whenever the
council might designate. This was
ruled out.
The substitute then came up for
vote as to whether it should be ac-
cepted. Lyden, Anderson, Cork,
Robbins, Ernst, Wood and Lynch vot-
ed for 1t, and Johnson, Connell and
McReynolds against 1t. 1t was de-
clared as accepted as an amendment
and substitute for the original ordi-
nance and the ordinance as amended
was then put on its second and final
reading and passed by the same vote.
Some of the Changes
There are several important
changes in the franchise from the
original as already stated. Besides
the reducing of the term 20 years
and the change of the cash consid-
Grafton, the price of lights 10 the
city, except free lights at the city
buildings, is to remain the same as
in the year 1907, that is to say, arc
lights s51 each per year. The
maximum rate for all domestic and
commercial lights is also fixed and
shall not exceed 10 cents per kilo-
watt hour for the first 100 hlowatt
hours and cents per kilowatt hour
in excess Of that. The fat rates
shall remain the same as they were
last year.
At the end of any ten-year period
the city shall have the right to
change and reduce the maximum
meter rates by taking an average of
the rates OF the 10 leading cities of
the state-not under municipal own
ership. II tht average be found lower
than rates charged here. Also the
maximum rates can not be changed
for domestic and commercial lights
without the consent OF the council.
in fact, no change of the maximum
rates OF any kind can be changed
without the consent of the council.
] Right to Buy.
The city also reserves the right
to acquire all the properties Of the
company, as well as its rights and
franchises. by paying to 1t the true
and actual value, less the value Of
the franchise. at the end of 10 years
from the date of the franchise, By
giving six months notice.
Another important change is in
the gas part Of the franchise the
words manufactured or artifciaT'
being inserted.
Continued on page 50