Rocky Ford enterprise. (Rocky Ford, Colo.) 1887-1950, 1911-06-16
COUNTY Light
AND POWER line
With Equitable and Reason
able Rate to All Patrons
is FAVORED -
BY BUSINESS MEN
And Farmers-RIght of Way Along
County Roads viii Likely be
Granted Pueblo Co. Today

Granted Pueblo 20. Oody
PuASpant to the request of the county
commissioners a meeting of the Rocky
Ford Chamber of Commerce was held on
Monday afternoon to discuss the apple
cation of the Pueblo and Suburban Tfae-
ton and Lighting Co. for the "riRht'
privilege and franchise to construct.
maintain and operate line of poles. with
wires strung thereon, for the purpose OF
transmitting electric current for lighting,
power and heating purposes. along the
county roads Of Otero county"
As noted in the Enterprise last week.
the petition had been presented by John
F. Vail Of the Pueblo company. and the
commissioners were divided upon the
proposition. Some of the commissioners
believed that the company should be
granted the same right as that allowed
the Colorado Telephone and the Postal
Telegraph companies. while the LaJunta
member of the board. instigated it is said
by local pressure. wanted the company
to pay $4,000 for the privilege OF being
granted a right Of way through Otero
county. so the application was taken un-
der consideration BY the commissioners
and they have put it up to the people.
A: the meeting Monday afternoon
Messrs. Vail and Hoag of the Pueblo
company appeared and stated to the
crowd of business men assembled that
the company is not asking for franchise
to do business in Otero county as it has
already secured this right from the var
ious towns and any additional business
secured will have to be on its merits as
business proposition and advantages to
proposed users. Not single farmer in
Otero! 0lnty will have to use either light
or power unless the company can show
by the chearness Of its service that will
be to his advantage to do SO. The COM
pany, however. proposes to do business
with all the farmers along its lines by
making rates that will insure ther patron
age.
The company was not asking fran
ehise in Rocky Ford.as this city is supplied
with a plant Of its own. with a franchise
Extending for some 2u years. and the
speakers insinuated that tho people OF
this city were not vitality interested.
MayorCoffman and other local speakers
Thought otherwise. They understood
|that the Pueblo company we're prospee-
hive purchasers Of the Rocky Ford plant
and it was to our interest to see that
some provision should be made whereby
I'VE could secure an electric service at the
same rate as is now paid in La Junta.
was also to the interest Of the business
men Of this city to see that the farmers
n this vicinity were given the same priv
Iieges as elsewhere throughout the eoun-
y, brt it was not believed that this could
be secured by compelling the payment Of
$4,000 bonus. II the company was
obliged to Put up this amount for righ:
{ way they would probably add enough
o the charge for service to pay good in
srest on this extra capitalization. so the
ear pspple would shoulder the added
urden Il the long run. They favored a
lauss i7lAis franchise binding the COM
any that it would rot sell or furnish
Juice" within the county at more than a
ripulated fiat price and no municipality
individual should be given a concession
ot granted to all within the county.
This was the sense Of the meeting and
motion President Maxwell Of the
han,ber of Commerce appointed the fol-
wing committee to appear before the
punty commissioners and express"thess
I,r sentiments: Messrs Vaudeville.
offman, Harris. Brown. O'Connor,
ryant and Edgar.
A representative Of the Rocky Ford
eetrie Co. appeared before the meeting
Id gave the assurance Of Pres. Cudde-
.ek that should the county line 60
rough the city Of Rc;ky Ford. and all
ers would be given the same rate as
at established by the Pueblo Co. which
evidence of the fact that this company
lieves that our people are interested
the granting Of the county right Of
by.
On the same evening a meeting was
Id by the La Junta Industrial Assoeia-
In, at which the same sentiments were
pressed and like committee appoint
to wait on the county commissioners.
"A committee representing the Otero
riculturaI Club with like object in
W will also be present at the meeting
Ehe county commissioners this after
,n, and 1t is very probable that the
npany will be granted the right Of way
.ed for, under this restriction that in
oe of the county being gwen a lump
n for tA grant, the people will have
benefis Gireot in the way OF reduced
equitable rates.