Evening journal., 1911-11-03

when science might invent some sys-
TEN which would materially decrease
the cost Of electric current and leave
the consumer with a high contract on
his hands When questioned as &c
how one holding contract could pro-
ceed against this company for q fail
ure TO fulfill said contracts, counsel
for the applicant stated that there
would be no way to proceed in the ab-
sence OF tangible property, conse-
quently the company would be entirely
irresponsible and moreover could I'M
mediately abrogatc their franchise
rights. as It Is stated in their resolu'
ton that failure TO comply with tic
requirements as expressed would
make the franchise void. In case o,
failure to be in actual operation .e
furnish current at maximum oi
seven cents per kilowatt hour within
Q period Of two years from the pass
ing Of the resolution would make IL
null and void.
1T was thought in the judgment OF
this Board that the company could
get rid of said franchise should q fav-
orable bidder appear before construc-
sion had ben started. lt was also ire
quently stated by the publicity rep
resentative that the cost TO the city
for electric current amounted TO $780,
600 per anuum but it was declared
under oath by the President of the
Wilmington and Philadelphia Traction
Company that their gross earnings for
the year ending june go 1911 aggre-
gated less than SSS5,00O for electric
light, heat and power purposes, which
statement was verified by the Secre-
tary Of this Department in an inves-
tigation Of the books. in the Judgment
of this Board this is an insufficient
amount of business upon which two
electric companies can live independ-
emily and successfully. II was stated
by the representative of the applicant
not only once but several times, and
under oath, that he believed he could
increase the consumption Of electric
ity one hundred per cent. BY the nam
ing OF better rates.
"This, in the judgment of the Board
is an impossibility, based on the fac
that, in 50 far as we can ascertain
nearly all possible large consumer
of electric current are now using II
/. lftNinE OILY lur AoAptANAutAo . dAi
merchants 20 make UP this very con
siderable increase. We believe it L
have been demonstrated clearly dur
ing the past few years when we ha'
two competing companies selling cur
rent at cut throat rates, in fact az an,
rate necessary to get business, tha
this increase did not ensue. Anothe
very important item IN the benefits Z
be derived was that there was to b
y a general reduction OF 80 per cent. "
! have been informed privately by on
Z Of the largest consumers in the cit
! that when called upon BY canvasse
: for said applicant and thai havin
' been told that they could make hiI
! a saving Of 80 per cent If he woul
Q sign a contract, when asked by thi
!. manufacturer however. to present
d him in figures he left and has neve
d been back. the benefit this manufa'
S turer would have been TO the applical
" is such that We believe that had u
d reduction of 80 per cent. been Dor
u tide one he would have been back n
ID only once but many times, If such wou
II have been necessary to procure tt
IS business Moreover we feel hrm
Il, convinced from the fgures submit
20 by the Wilmington & Philadelpt
le Traction co. and verified by our Sc
"a retary as 10 the net earnings Of sd