The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1913-02-14
Council Acts on Natural Gas
Franchise.

The City Council at its meeting last
night passed upon the franchise that
was offered several weeks ago, admit
ting natural gas to this city, after
/ Mayor Hinton and City Attorney G. A.
Mcmillan had been instructed to act il!
conjunction with the Light Committee
of the Council to 20 over the franchise,
make such changes as would safeguard
local interests and advertise for bids
upon the franchise.
The action of the Council followed
an unusual session tand the franchise
was freely discussed. Col. Stuart, of
| winchester, who as representative
of the Central Kentucky Natural Gas
| Co.. presented the franchise to the
Council, was present, the object of his
visit being to confer with the mem
bers of the Board in regard to the OBJ
| jecti0ns that had been made to Lit and
which resulted in it's rejection at a re-
cent meeting.
Col. Stuart presented his claim to
the Board and after prolonged discus
sion it was agreed that the section of
the franchise which contained the
clause fixing the maximum rate would
be changed to conform with the fran
chises now in effect in Winchester,
l. eXIngton and Mt Sterling, and that
the rate in Paris at all times should he
the same in force and effect in those
cities.
Col. Stuart said the purpose of that
section was to equalize the rate for
gas and readily agreed to the changes
to meet the demands of the Council.
He SAID his company. if it purchased
the franchise, would act in good faith
with the people of Paris and would be-
gin work within four months and COM
plete the laying of the pipe lines to
this city.within SIX months as provided
by the franchise. and .eXpend sum of
$3.50, 600 in the construction work.
Hon. Claude M. Thomas, represent
ing the Paris Gas and Electric Co..
addressed the Council in an effort to
have it refuse to grant the franchise,
| stating the company which had submit
ted the proposItioughad no Intention of
| bringing natural gas here. He init
mated that there bad been an effort of
certain capitalists to buy the local gas
and electric company and after their
| failure to do so, had adopted this plan
| to force a sale OF the plants and equip
! ment while pretending to be in good
faith in regard to bringing natural gas
/ 10 Paris. He appealed to the Council
| to consider local interests before going
too deep into the affair, and from the
! fact thai the prospective purchasers
| of the franchise had shown no consider
alton for the local interests and had
minated that they would not pur-
chase the property of the local plant in
event they should pipe gas to this city.
Col. Stuart assured Mr.. Thomas and
J tire members of the Council that in
event his company came into posses
sion of the franchise, the company
would agree to purchase all the mains
in the city that were suitable for the
purpose.
The members of the Light Commit
| tee, Mayor Hinton and Attorney Nc
MILAN will meet. in a few days and
! take the matter up, and it is probable
bids will be advertised for at an early
date.
\ Inspector Of Weights andl Measures.
M. +. Kenney, submitted a report to
the Board in, which be said an inspec-
ton of all scales and weights III the
city had been mSde and at the sspresent
! time all were correct. The report of
The CITY Treasurer was also submit
ted to the Board, which was accepted.