The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-04-27
The Water and
Light Franchise

The Franchise the kanawha and
Water and Light Company are ask
ing the, City Officials to give them
Tor large term OF years is mat
ter of vital importance to every citi-
zen OF our city and is question
that should demand their considera-
ton. Don't leave these important
questions that not only effect you
now but will effect your children and
your childrens children entirely in
the hand of your officials but study
them for your selves then advise
your officials as your public servant
how you want them to vote on these
matters and give them the benefit
of your study and thoughts. With
two new members on the board of
affairs and practically new coun-
ell throughout. undoubtedly 4 great
many of them have never given this
matter due thought. and considera
ton. The citizens by hard work
were able to keep the old board and
council from railroadins this i'm
portant matter through as they did
the gas franchise last summer and
the telephon merger last fall The
old council at its last meeting in
Apri! laid the entire franchise mat
Board of Affairs. Every indication
pointed toward our old board being
willing tools of the corporation. If
the matter had been left entirely to
them the peoples rights would have
been given away long ago, but few
public spirited citizens l:led up
against this outrage being perpetrated
ed and caused SO much public senti-
ment against the franchise that the
trust tools were afraid to let it go
before the council. Now the question
that confrOnts us is what are our
new officials going to do about this
matter? Are they going to betray
the confidence of the people and al
low this public utility corporation
to continue their robbery for thirty
or fifty years longer or will they
tell the Water and Light Company
to comply with the terms of their
present franchise for the next three
years? We have ample time
to devise ways and means in three
years to buy the present old junk
or to cnstall lbs n new Water and
Light Plant to be owned and operat-
ed by the City. there are but few
mains in the city that would stand
the required pressure. Most of the
mains have been down for years and
are rusty rotten and worthless and
will have to be replaced before the
water plant of this city can be con-
sidered an Efficient one with its num-
crous dead ending mains and in
some cases their water main is
nothing but as gas pipe while in
others they are using four inch mains
to supply a six inch main and
h,no 70 Par
can have an efficient and sanitary
ings and old pipes must be dug out
and new mains laid in their places
so the water will have a free cir
cult. The Water and Light Com
pany are asking for this franchise
so they can bond the plant and
make the necessary improvements
and extend and make the people pay
for them and pay interest on the
bonds. Now why couldn't the city
take over this plant and issue bonds
on the plant if necessary and pay
for it. then it wouldn't belong to the
city and be a source of revenue in
stead OF Il method of exploitation.
Charleston can own her own water
and light plant. regardless of all the
false statements made by our city
officials to the contrary. Doubtless
ly they were paid by the water and
] light company to try to make the
people believe that n wealthy city
like Charleston couldn't buy this old
junk pile. with the new fire plugs
the fire chief has asked for the city
would be paying this corporation be-
tween twenty five and thirty thous-
and dollars a year, this sum alone
would install a better plant than the
present one in ten years. Other
cities not as large or as wealthy as
Charleston own and operate their
water and light plants and they are
not only a source of revenue to the
city but a saving to the water con-
sumers. The Charleston people are
| paying twice as much for water as
those living in cities that own their
own plant, this is the question that
effects us all. we should lay aside
our political difference and get to
gether on this water and light ques-
i ton. Altogether now for a city
owned water and light plant. Talk
| this matter over with your council
men. talk it with your neighbor
| talk it every where until it becomes
a by word. The city shall own its
public utilities