The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1913-11-07
Is the Declaration of>Mayor j.
T. Hinton In Regard to the
Natural Gas Situation in Paris.
SECRETARY:OF COMPANY
= AGREES TO THE DEMAND
Mayor Issues Statement in Which
He Sets Forth His Action to
Protect Gas Consumers.

efforts to protect the consumers OF
natural gas from the possible attempt
to operate under the old franchise
which they now hold, we will exert
every legal effort to annul the fran
chises and if the worst comes we
will build our own electric light and
gas plant" was the stern declaration
of Mayor ]. T. Hinton yesterday af-
ternoon after discussing at length the
visit of Mr.. H. w. Beck, Secretary of
the Light and Development Co., of
st. Louis, which owns and operates
the local plant, and which purchased
the franchise recently granted the
Central Kentucky Natural Gas Co.
For the past several weeks the at.
titude Of the Paris Gas & Electric Co.
in its refusal to specify which con-
tract it will elect to operate under,
has greatly purturbed the consumers
in this city, with the result a number
of citizens have refused to sign the
contracts furnished by the company,
and natural gas has been cut off
from large number OF residences.
The local officials of the company,
it has been contended, were not aware
Of the course the Light & Develop
ment Company intended to pursue,
and the matter was taken up with
the head office in ST. Louis, resulting
in visit by the Secretary of the
company to ascertain the cause of
he seeming dissention among the
consumers of this city and to confer
with the city officials
A meeting of the Council which had
been called for yesterday morning was
postponed at the solicitation of Mr..
Beck, who after a conference with
Mayor Hinton, decided to return to
st. Louis to secure a contract, which
it was said would be acceptable to
the city. The city officials are deter
mined in their efforts to force the
company to meet the demands and
will accept nothing that will not be
favorable to the consumers. The
agreement between the lighting
company and the city will be binding
in every respect and the only con-
dition upon which the company will
be allowed the right to retain the old
franchise will be in that case that it
is needed for the distribution of arti-
fetal gas should he supply of natural
gas be exhausted In regard to the
situation Mayor Hinton yesterday is
ued the following:
1t having been reported that the
Paris Gas and Electric Company had
signified their intention to use the old
franchise for the distribution of nat
ural gas after they had purchased the
new franchise recently granted the
Central Kentucky Natural Gas Com
pany, notice was served on the Paris
Gas and Electric Company that the
city, authorities would not submit to
the abandonment of the the new fran
chise which contained restrictions as
to price and service that were not in
the old franchise. A meeting of the
Council had been called for Thursday
morning to take official action in this
connection. Wednesday morning Mr..
Beck, the Secretary of the ST. Louis
Company which controls the Paris
Gas and Electric Company, came to
| this city to confer with us in regard
! to the situation. He was told that
the city would enter :egal proceedings
to annul both franchises and prose
cute the case through the courts of
last resort and use every means avail
able to force them to give to the citi
zens every right to which they are
entitled under the new franchise. Mr.
Beck stated that it had been their
| intention to use the old franchise fol
the reason that it might be needed
| for the distribution of artificial gas
in the event that the natural gas
should ever become exhausted.
1t was agreed with Mr.. Beck thai
his company might hold all its rights
for the use of artificial gas under
such condition, but that an agreement
must be made in writing that would
positively insure to the city ever,
right given in the new franchise fO
natural gas After talking over thu
long distance phone with his attorne.
at st. Louis, Mr.. Beck assured us tina
his company would act in good faitl
with the city and that he would re
turn to st. Louis anc have their attoI
ney prepare a contract which woul'
meet the demands we are making
it were possible to do so and protec
their own interest Mr. Beck wa
given to understand that in no wa
would we withdraw our demand
that whatever contract he should sui
NIT must positively guarantee ever
restriction and privilege given by tn
new franchise, and that unless the
= did so guarantee we would procee
to take such steps as are necessar
to secure to the citizens their fu
rights, e"en if it should b necessar
Ito recommend to the people tn
building of their own light and ga
plant. With Mr.. Beck's assurane
: that they would meet the condition
the meeting of the Council that ha
been called was postponed until M
Beck may have time to submit b
proposition, which he has promise
to do at once.
j. T. HINTON.