Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-04-26

The Cedar Rapids utility people APP
peared before a committee composed
of the board of directors OF the Mar
shalltown Club a group of officers OF
labor unions, the city council and a few
others at the east court room Thurs
DAY evening to explain the terms under
which they would like to receive
franchise in Marshalltown. Mayor
Jones introduced Mr.. j. A. Reed, an at
torney from Cedar Rapids and one OF
the group of capitalists seeking the
franchise who outlined their plans.
| Briefly they offer 81 gas next Janu-
AIRY.
They offer to build a street car line
to the city park within one year, same
to be operated six months each year,
and also to the fair grounds to be OPP
Grated when there is a public gather
ing which would justify the mayor in
ordering the cars to run.
r, They offer to build a car line over a
viaduct south across the railway
tracks when the viaduct is ready. and
to extend to May street or farther.
! They offer to build within five years
extensions of the street car lines
amounting TO one and a half miles in
parts of the city to be determined by
Them in addition to the lines to the
city park, the fair grounds and across
the viaduct This would more than
double the present mileage.
They offer to reha bilitate and i'm
prove the street railway tracks, equip
ment and service.
F.! They offer to furnish the city power
with which to operate its pumping
plant and its street light generators at
;2A cents per k. w.
They offer to furnish the city cur
rent for eectrolier lighting at 4 cents
per k. W., which is nearly half the pres
ent cost.
They offer commercial power rates
lower than the present rate, slightly
lower than the Darling rates on small
motors used about town, but not quite
so low as either the Hull ordinance
rates or the Darling rates on large in
stallations.
They offer the lowest electric light
rates for residences ever proposed in
this city, nearly 40 per cent lower than
the present Jones & Hovey rates and
slightly lower than either the Darling
franchise or Hull ordinance rates.
Their rates for store lighting are not
so low as either the Darling or Hull
rates, but nearly SO and in some cases
almost half the present Jones & Hovey
rates.
All the rates are offered for period
of five years, at the end Of which time
the city is given authority to examine
all of the books and records of the
company as to valuations, earnings and
cost Of production, that it may fix
future rates with intelligence as to
the facts, and 1t may make such exam
ination once each year thereafter.
The franchise, if granted, will run
for twenty five years and the street
car line extensions are made a con-
sideration in all of the franchises, 80
that If the company fails to perform
the council may revoke the gas and
electric light franchises as well as the
street railway franchise
Are Utility Operators.
Mr.. Reed introduced his proposition
by telling those present that he and
his associates owned and operated the
interurhan line from Cedar Rapids to
Iowa city, including the electric light
ing and power business in Cedar Rap
lQS anu tIldl lllty were HOW OullOlus9 OIL
interurban from Cedar Rapids to Mt.
Vernon; that they owned and operated
the electric light and power plant at
Marion and the electric light, power
and street railway at Boone.
Exit Jones 4 Hovsy.
He said that they had expended
$4,000 at Boone in eight months re-
building the power plant, and that if
he, RI Marcia fhoy "A a
provided $4,000 for rebuilding and
extensions here in addition to the pur
chase price. He said that his contract
with Jones & Hovey was to buy out
right all their holdings for cash and
that he was to get every share Of stock
in the present NJ L. P. & Ry. Co. or
take deed and bill of sale to every
dollars worth Of property connected
with the present utilities in Marshall
town.
He said that his company had dem
onstrated it's willingness to render
service to such an extent in Cedar
Rapids that aften ten years Of OPP
Grafton there the people had this
spring voted them a new franchise by
poll of 4,o91 yes to PAS no. and that
after they had been in Boone six
months they secured heating fran
chise by vote of 600 to 30.
Will Transmit Power to Other Towns.
He then explained that their plan
was to Make Marshalltown, Boone an6
Cedar Rapids power centers from
which to generate, transmit and sell
electrical current in towns and villages
within a radius of thirty miles. He
said that they had already secured the
entire power business of the North
western shops at Boone on a specia
rate, and that at Cedar Rapids they
had made a special rate to the big
starch mills so low as to get all the
business of those mills in spite of the
fact that the mills were already
equipped with a private electrical plan,
larger in capacity than the present
Jones & Hovey plant here. He ther
said that they had already entered
negotiations to furnish the power FOL
the VI. & ST L shops in this city and
expected to make such special rates ia
power to the large factories as would
get all of the power business of tn,
city.
Comparison Of Rates.
a comparison Of the electric 1igi1
with the present exorbitsnt Jones
! Hoye,- rates the Hull Ordiuauce rate