Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-02-08
WIDELY DIFFER IN THEIR VIEWS
AS TO The VALUE OF The PLANT
M engineer ANSLEY SAYS $7SOOO ELECTRICAL EXPERT YEARE SAYS 10000
Attorney Sheppard Insists That the Electric and Gas Company Has No Franchise and
Should Not Be Allowed Issue SeCutleS-DeCae Legal Points
Discussed at Atlanta
CITY ENGINEER SEY SAYS $7OO0 ELECTRICAL EXPERT YEARNE SAYS
{ Special to Times Recorder.)

the boards in spirited all-day hear
ing before the state railroad commits
sion today, the issue being whether
or not the body should approve of the
issue of $4,000 of 5 per cent bonds
and $250,0O0 of stock sought to be
placed by the Americus Gas and Elec-
trio Co.
Proceeding against the approval o:
the issue appeared Mayor ]. E. Ma
this, lderman Lee Allen, City Engi.
neer John B. Ansley and Hon. ]. L
Sheppard, attorney and state sena-
tor. They came representing the NIT
jority of the Americus city council.
On the other side appeared Mr.. r
D. Nesbitt, of New York, who is pres
ident of and financing the Americus
company; A. N. Walker, of New York,
former president of the old Americas
Railway and Light Company. .Electcl-
cal Expert W. B. Yearance, of New
York; Supt. ]. H. Hagarty, of the
Americus Gas and Electric Co., AMI
Attorney R. l.. Maynard.
There were in attendance Col. W. A
Dodson, Mr.. Thomas Harold and Al
derman C. ]. White, all of Americus
Although extensive briefs have been
filed on both sides, the greatest part
of the day was spent in taking testi-
mony.
The witnesses called were Messrs.
Yearance, Hagarty, Harold and Ans
ley. They covered the situation as to
the company and it's predecessors for
the last twenty-three years.
City Engineer Ansley valued the
company's entire property at $4,000,
while the valuation put upon it by
Mr., .Yearance was s340,000
Mr.. Harold testified that his faith II
the property four years ago for $685.
OOO but considered it worth $4,000
1t was stated by Mr. Harold that his
father the late U. B. Harold, sold it
on account of political wrangling in
which it was involved in Americus.
Since that time, it was stated, large
expenditures have been made in int
proving the property.
Mr.. Hagarty testified that AmericGs
had cheaper lights and power tha2
the majority of the cities the size of
Americus. and figures were presented
along this line.
Members of the commission asked
many questions of the witnesses in the
effort to bring out all the facts, but
without indie ating anything as to their
opinion
Mr.. Maynard, representing the CON-
pany, agreed to leave the case to the
commission without argument unlese
something was stated by Mr.. Sheppard
which he felt impelled to reply to.
Mr.. Sheppard made a brief argu-
| ment urging that the company holds
no franchise from the city, the city
council having refused to grant it. He
contended that as a matter of law the
commission should not approve n
bond and stock issue by public uttl-
itv concern which IS without a fran
chise.
He was asked by Commissioned Can
dler if he had any authority on the
point
He replied that he had not, but that
he nut it forward as matter Of com
mon law reason.
Mr.. Maynard replied briefly to Mr.
Sheppard and the commission took IT,
case under advisement.
1t will probably be week or tel
days before a decision is rendered a.
tho commission wants to go carefully
over the briefs and papers in th'
case.
The company insisted that 1t owns
franchise as the successor Of tn
Americus Railway aud Light Company
while the opposition holds that thi
company having gone out Of business