The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-05-03
FEATURES OF THE FRANCHISE
Ono IF +ba r,on,,1or faoturor of the

One of the popular features of the
proposed electric light and power
franchise which it is proposed to grant
to Messrs. Stone & Webster is the
provision as to the rates to be charged
for light and power for commercial
Industrial and domestic purposes. The
agreement on this important subject
is best stated in the language of the
ordinance, which reads as follows:
Sec. l. Until the power to fix
reasonable rates and charges is vested
by law in some other public body, the
city council of the city of Keokuk
shall have the power to require the
grantee herein, subject to reasonable
rules and regulations, to furnish any
person applying therefor along the
lines of its wires with light and pow
er; to require the grantee to supply
the said city of Keokuk with light and
power for all necessary public purpos-
es. TO regulate and fix reasonable
charges for electric light or power
meters, or other devices or means
necessary for determining the con-
sumption of electric light or power. "
Stripped of it's legal verbiage this
means that the people of keokuk, I'M
der the proposed franchise, are to re-
tain in their own hands the power TO
fix the prices TO be charged for light
and power If at future time state
public utilities commission IS created,
then that body is TO name the rates.
In any event the people through their
I'D oil fri
light and power companies, are to say
what, all things considered, the ser
vice is reasonably worth The pro-
vision is an important one and it safe
guards fully the rights and interests
of the community in the matter of
the prices to be charged.
Another feature that is the subject
of much favorable comment is the
proposal TO install for street lighting
purposes standard modern arc lamps
known as Series Luminous, or
Magnetic" of 6.6 ampere size, ad-
iusted for an average voltage of not
less than seventy-four volts, and con-
Stunning an average of 500 watts at
the terminals of the lamps These
lamps are the best arc lamps known
and are more than twice as effective
as those now in use in this city. When
installed and in operation they will
make Keokuk the best lighted city OF
its size in the United States. Its IL
Elimination will make 1t unique and
advertise it far and wide as desir-
able place in which to live and trans
act business. II will also have the eff
feet of enhancing property values
through the demand it will create for
homes and business houses here. TO
obtain this precedence and advantage
over all other cities and towns will
NOT cost the city of Keokuk cent
more than ii is now paving for its
present inferior lighting service The
light and power company proposes to
furnish the finest equipment and main
tain the better service at considerable
financial loss to itself for two or three
years, in the hope that when electric
energy from the water power plant
becomes available il will be able to
make ends meet For profitable re-
turns upon its large Investment IT is
willing to await the growth and de-
yelopment of Keokuk.
That the community should hesitate
to ACCEPT such offers is not to be
thought Sf for an instant. AS evidence
Of its APPRECIATION and good will i,