The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-07-27
THE WATER AND LIGHT FRANCHISE.

- AH ">iI'> AM Lh"h vi
The Kanawha Water s Light Co arc getting desperate ron
resent indications will resort to that last resource Of all monopolies,
when seeking special privilege 'IslbEIsi-we learn that several
of the ouncihm AVE been approached by he agents of h water
and light monopoly when unable to influence them. himself have
invited them to g % sec MIR. Fred Paul Grosscup in his private office
and let him throw sol light on the subject" If Mr.. Grosscup a
his confidence explain III matter through the columns of h p "a
pers? This matter of giving a private corporation te exclusive right
&c o tn uohc with xtortionat rates o a necessity is a matter Of
i'm portanee to very citizen. Why then does Mr.. crosscup wish to
1t is because the general public cant be bought. You may Nhoodwinh
a tim majority " IN the" ." o" can't fool all the people all the
The Kanawha Water & Light Co. have o respected the terms of
their present franchise o the last three years Is they have refused to
make extensions according to contract and the people n the first and
consumers have laid their W mains OF six and seven hundred feet
but as soon a they tapped OIL to the waterc ompanys main it became
the property of this corporation. who made other taps o it when V
hey ante to regardless Of TIN factt that the main bought and
According to the report Of the Water and Light Company it paid a
plance with the ternss of their franchise their earnings would have
gross earnings Of the Water and Light Company last year rs amounted !" 't te
od' tnird au ID , am n" wnr"x serSi "n az s, slven tn the, people ,%a nleao If h t first. sec,
"a exceeded s2s5Noooo. BY cutting off all expensive n unnecessary
maintains expenses would not exeec s5oooooo which would leave a net
ea I'm 1o of f sl1 u; 1000, a year
utility corporation a monopoly on this necessity and allow them to wiring
a few millionaire n enar,s Gs I dn me- Sw o %r aa an NEEDY people Of on. our city that
aud squander u hard earned dollars. The present franchise expires
three years from o In that time the city will be able to buy the pres
mt plan OF fA'saH a e ne In the meantime leto ~ cfy official de-
vote heir time and energy to forcing the water and light company to
papers IL that august body that represea he BIZ business intsr ut pThs
Chamber of commerce-are ADVOCATING a bono issue to h Ms q sI. ane ne
f oua t "a p "n n morars: TO- niuld a market house and to pave a few streets
would ID, BE- " a soureeo of evenu to the city o lower the taxes. They could
f"Nh'f" bl II te City "nc the
water NJ light plant it would bring us in a let income o at least $4,000
a after cutting the rates o he consumers halfi in w At he
present eMorfonate rates thu plant would yer pay fr itself in five
cars. 1t is IN evident fac hat if we a issue bonds to pay for sucb
i"Aulles as IA park, market house. library n street proveme We
ch issue bonds ito by the water n light plant. The logical tbinr to Ia
IS ht oF o bld a watera and light plant n use Ii proceeds from,
tH' 10 make TIT other improvements, instead OF giving it to the corpora
ti"S anu taxing the people to make the necessary improvements Ne
uouot tns matter Will come VI beforeo II council at its next meeting
'u we VIII b. their votes whether they represented the people of
the rporation trusts. We will. spot he men who are tied I'M in
chltoh' Cor & Chihons shirt tail as I'll as those who visited
VIZ "rosscup ONCE. The city car w this utility II hose who have
nc pest interest of the city al heart will vote against Inc granting of =
i"chise on an terms For thirty years this MUST unfair orporation
mas dtteheu upo the people Of Charleston. So in h name Of Justice
au Ign we ask. o nt to faTen this octopus IN us for thirty ears 20
N" n lis present enerat las n o right to give way Inc light
anu privileges Oft he next. By granting his franchise you will not only
oe IMPOSING a hardship o the present generation but will be robbins
Sour chldrcn m o chidrpns children.
hoh tn Mail Gazette printed a lot of dope about the meeun- O.
ne "hers and driver sofau automobiles. thu cry parties guilty of vi0at-
ing ne ordinance n endanserinE the life n limb If thu nublic
s' themselves up Is the proper cstos say what h speed mi bou1d
re- ma TO lay To- ules governing bis matter o f course tbv want
'p e h"t ereas to II miles a hour instead of 10. They would
ao hke 10 make US poor devils who only have a nicke to ride g., ,-t
y" anu III one SIDE Of the street car. We are supposed to De Hving
. uGhocratc form Of rernment. A democratic government is III
poSeu 70 MAKE law that Will do he most people the most goo OF in
""uS 10 MAKE avs for the benefit oft tn majority. No w would Ike
~ hho" II there are more people in Charleston win mr.
luE1s te street cars o every automobile owner there are a housand
street ar patrons. then why should these few machine owners dictate tn
us "hch s"c OIL the strcet ar We should get o NJ of The speed
i"nt on 'Ahces is sfx miles M our M automobiles should be forced
TO rspee tt-fn every Incident that has occurred the automobile wnrr-