The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-02-10
Southern Power CO. and
Council Couldn't Agree

the legislature WHICH udd Cue dpoo-
lutte power { to fix rates. Council
wouldn't pass the franchise without
the maximum rate, and the represen-
tatives of the company departed, and
there the matter rested.
Contracts With Mills.
The Power company, as has been
stated, has tentative contracts with
the Mollohon mill and the Newberry
mill, to furnish power for the entire
plant of the former and for the recent
addition to the latter. 1t also has
contract to furnish entire power for
the Oakland mills, now in process Of
construction outside the city limits,
but this mill will of course not be af-
fected by rhle franchise not being
granted, if the company should build
near enough to Newberry, under pres
ent conditions, to furnish it power.
Two Logical Positions.
To an on-looker it appeared that
there were two logical, consistent and
advantageous positions, either OF
which council might take and one of
which would have been entirely agree
able to the Southern Power company.
One Acceptable.
The franchise which the Power
company asked provided that it should
not sell power in less than 1O0-horse-
power quantities, and the representa-
tive of the company was willing to
have inserted i'm the franchise that 1t
could not sell power to any one for
resale and distribution. Thus there
could be no competition with the city
lighting plant, and if the city itse
didn't want to use the power, pract1-
cally the only users in quantities OF
1O0-horse power would be the three
mills, all of which have men in charge
of them who have proved themselves
amply able to take care of themselves
in the business world. The Power
company couldn't buy the city plant
unless council would sell, and all COM
petition would be eliminated. While
under this plan the city generally
would not be benefited, except through
the mills, it would have been of great
advantage to the mills, anG could have
done the city no harm. Or the city
could have bought THE power and dis
tributed it to it's patrons ever its own
lines, and if the rates got too exorbl-
tant it would be a, small matter to
start up the portion Of the plant made
inactive by ceasing to make the pow
er here, and distributing it only. Un-
der this position, there would have
been no necessity for a maximum rate,
and this position would have been en-
tirely acceptable to THE company.
The Other Not Acceptable.
Then there was another logical
position, which, however, it would ap-
pear, should have given way to the
other whsn it was found that by TAX
ing it the company would not come IN
to Newberry. This was to fix maxi
mum rate, and then let the company
sell in any quantities. it desired and
to anybody, and if it was desired not
to dispose of the city plant, then let
the city plant take care of itself and
if it couldn't stand competition let it
abide by the law of the survival c. the
fittest, and perish. Alderman Ear
hardt took this position, believing
that a maximum rate ought to be re-
uuired. But council as Il whole took
neither of these positions, or, rather,
took a portion Of each, reoliring a
maximum rate, and also eliminating
competition with the ci.y-positions,
which it would appear, are as dame
IL lCdilS OptOSSu W Celcit OohAEi 60 C1AN
poles. and as illogical fs the entire
absence Of logic.
Benefits without Danger.
Probably ali tho benefits with all
the safeguards that council want@d
would not have been secr2rd under the
first position, but some Of the benefits,
with thorough safeguards, would have
been secured, without the slightest
danger Of any hurt to the city, and
the Power company would - in New
berry.
Proceedings in Detail.
City council met at I.30 O'Clock.
Downstairs in the clerks office were
Messrs. Z. V. Taylor and MilmoW, rep
resentatives of the Power company.
Mr.. NJ. l.. Spearman, Of the board OF
commissioners of public works, and