The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-02-24

ID
lust returned to his Office from bus
mess trip to New York City. After
this conference with Mr.. Lee, I wish
10 state that the franchise under
which the Southern Power company
operates, and to say that it has been
carefully drawn with view to being
fair. ! can only reiterate what 1 said
at it's last meeting, that however de-
sirable our entrance into the city OF
Newberry might be, it could not be
sufficiently attractive to us to warrant
our destroying a policy which it has
taken years to build up, and jeopar-
dizing an investment such as we have.
It will be impossible, therefore, for
US to accept any notifications in this
sranchise whatever. As I stated to
you at your meeting, it is our inten-
tion, should this franchise be granted,
10 build our sub-station In your city,
hut under no circumstances would we
.-permit this to be a part of our fran
ehise or to be an inducement toward
the granting of it.
In regard to the resale clause, your
city has it within it's power to pre-
vent any one selling power in COM
petition with your lighting plant in
your city by refusing to grant such
competitor a franchise. On the other
hand, our company, being under the
control of the public service commits
sion of the State OF South Carolina,
it becomes our duty to serve all ap-
plicants alike and by mandamus we
can be forced to do so, so that so far
as we are concerned the resale clause
could have absolutely no effect, be-
cause of the power of the public SER
vice commission to require US to serve
all applicants~in the same manner.
I wish further to add, that while it
is not our desire to hurry you in
these matters, nevertheless we would
like to know at the earliest possible
moment whether or not it is your pur-
pose to grant the franchise as asked
for, as We must determine within a
very short tine whether or not we
will build our lines to Newberry, or
whether we will change our route, go
ing via Clinton and Laurens and
thence to Greenwood. This must be
determined within the next few days.
hope you understand that the posi-
ton we have taken is not an arbitrary
one, but is a matter of business with
US, as am sure it will be with you.
If your people feel that the Southern
Power company offers advantages to
a growing community, you have the
opportunity of securing these advan-
tages. If, however, they feel that 1t
does mot offer such, no harm whatever
has been done. In fact; we believe
that it is better policy for the South
ern Power company to seek only those
fields for doing business that earnest
~ wish the company to do business
with them, and that even though we
could obtain an entrance into New
berry without your good wishes, it
would be- better for US net to come
unless We had your cooperation and
support.
Thanking you for your personal
courtesies while in your city, and with
my highest regards, am,
Yours very truly,
F. V. Taylor.
Wanted City Attorney Present.
Alderman Earhardt said that this
communication was more courteous
than anything that had yet been pre-
sented to council by the Southern
Power company, but, in his opinion,
there were legal questions involved
which would have to be taken up, and
inasmuch as City Attorney Eugene S.
Blease was out of town, and, there
fore, not present at the meeting, he
would not be willing to go into the
matter of re-oroning the question OF
granting a franchise to the Southern
Power company, as the council would