Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-03-27
WANTS NATURAL
GAS FRANCHISE
City Council Considers Ordinance
of Interstate Co.
SOME OPPOSITION TO THE
FRANCHISE PRESENTED

city Council in Special Session Refers
Matter TO Ordinance Committee
With instructions to Make Thor
oueh investigation Of the Question.
From The World OF Thursday:
The city council held special meet
ing last night to consider the fran
chise asked for by the Interstate
Natural Gas Co. The members were
all present except Councilmen Caskey.
Alderton and Brandenbunrg.
The ordinance for the franchise was
filed with City Clerk Letter thirty
days or more ago The company ask
the privilege of laying gas mains in
the corporation OF Martinsburg to filrn-
ish natural gas for light and heat
Col. S. w. Walker, of the law firm
of Faulkner, Walker and Woods, was
present at the council meeting in be-
half of the attorneys of the gas com
pany and spoke briefly in favor Of the
franchise as presented
The council discussed the question
at some length and finally decided to
refer the franchise to the ordinance
committee and they to report back at
future meeting of the council
Some opposition to granting the
franchise in its present shape was de-
veloped and 1t is a question II II will
be passed when the matter comes
up for final action
The company, which is said to Be
the STANDARD OIL Co under a different
name, is projecting line from the gas
fields in Lewis county, this state, east
to Washington and Baltimore. crossing
Berkeley county at Bunker Hill. strlk
ing Charles Town and thence to the
objective points mentioned. Branch
lines would be laid to Martinsburg and
Shepherdstown IL franchises are OBJ
tanned there.
1t it is said the company Is already
blocked from entering Washington by
John r. Mclean who owns the gas
works there. If that is so some people
question whether the natural gas line
will be laid through this county at all
rival natural gas company is lay
ing pipe line east by way OF Cumber
land and Williamsport, and 1t was said
here today that overtures for fran
chise to enter Martinsburg by a
branch pipe line may come from that
company
The Gas Franchise.
The franchise presented to the city
council is in full as follows:
Whereas, The Interstate Natural
Gas Co.. corporation of West Wiz.
rinia. desires thatsall needful, neces
sary and desirable permits and priv.
ileges may issue to it from the city
of Martinsburg, West Virginia, by its
raayor and council, enabling 1t to
lay, construct, maintain and operate
in. through under and upon public
grounds. roads, streets bridges, al
ley, ways. and sidewalks of the said
city, it's gas and ripe lines, and to
use and roaintain by itsels or it's as
signs the same for term OF fifty
years, and further enabling 1t to car
ry on it's said business of transporting,
distributing and delivering to and
through it's said gas and pipe lines
to it's customers it's said as as afore-
said
Therefore, Be ii ordained by the
common council of the .ity Of Mar
tinsburg.
Sec. /. That the said Interstate
Natural Gas Co. and its assigns be
and are hereby authorized, empower
ed and permitted to lay, construct,
maintain and operate gas lines, mains
pipes together with necessary regula-
tors convenient appliances. and safe
ty devices in, through. under and upon
the public grounds, roads streets.
bridges. alleys, ways and sidewalks
in the said city for the purpose OF
Transporting gas, aud distributing II
among customers for the term of fifty
years from this date.
But this grant is made upon the
following conditions.
First. The said company, its success
sors and assigns shall begin the work
preparatory to supplying said gas in
good faith within two CD years from
the date hereof, and shall so far com
plete said work as TO actually begin
the delivery of gas for consumption
within said city within three co years