The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1913-11-14
GAS COMPANY
AGREES TO TERMS
Meets Every Demand Made By
City. With Exception of De-
posite Clause of National
Gas Contract.
CONSUMERS ASSURED OF
THIRTY-FIVE CENT GAS.
Old Franchise Remains In Force
AS Safeguard Against An
Emergency.


made upon it by the city of Paris and
the consumers of natural gas, with
the exception of the deposit clause of
the contract, the Paris. Gas & Elec-
trio Co., last night at the regular
meeting of the City Council, through
it's president, Mr. w. A. Smith, of the
Light & Development Co., of st. LOU
is, pledged itself to operate under the
franchise granted the Central Ken
lucky Natural Gas Co., which was
purchased by the owners of the local
concern, and the consumers in this
city can now rest assured of thirty
five cent gas.
Without an exception all the ques-
tons brought up at the meeting of
the Board, which had previously been
called to the attention of the head of
the Light e. Development Co., were
adjusted amicably, and the attitude
of Mr.. Smith Indicated that the COM
pany intended to act in good faith re-
garding the furnishing of natural gas
under the new franchise.
An ordinance which in substance
provided for the retention of the old
franchise now held by the company
to protect itself in the event of the
supply of natural gas being exhaust
ed, and to safeguard the consumers
OF natural gas from any infringement
on the part of the operating company,
was introduced by Councilman w. o.
Hinton, and was passed by the unani-
nous vote of the Board.
Aside from Mr. Smith, the gas
company was represented by Hon. c.
M. Thomas, who in a short talk be-
fore the Council stated the purpose
of his clients was to act in the best of
faith toward the people of Paris, and
was ready and willing to meet any de-
mands made upon it, regardless of
the conditions, that would assure the
people fair dealing in the matter of
distributing natural gas. He said
further that the old franchise which
was granted in 1910 was a part of the
assets of the Light & Development
Co., and it's annulment would deprive
the company of a portion of the ba-
sis upon which it secured immense
loans to conduct it's business in this
and other cities, and asked that the
city allcw the old franchise to remain
in force.
Mr. Smith stated that his company
was morally obligated to live up to
the provisions of the franchise pur-
chased from the Central Kentucky
Natural Gas Company, and the only
reason the Council was asked to allow
the old franchise to continue in exist
ence was to demonstrate a fairness
toward the people who had financed
the local proposition. He further
stated that the provisions of the or
dinance introduced before the Board
was entirely satisfactory to him and
that before it became effective he
would have all agreements reduced to
writing, properly signed and placed
in the hands of the officials.
Regarding the deposit required of
consumers Mr.. Smith declined to en-
ter into any agreement that was not
calculated to protect the company,
but instead of the $40 deposit which
was required under the contract he
agreed to reduce the amount to the
cost of the proportionate amount of
| gas used by consumer in six weeks,
| the limit of time extended to consum-
ers without having their gas supply
| cut off. The consumer of question
able credit it was agreed should be
required to make deposit sufficient
! to secure the gas company from pos
sible loss, but this, however, does not
apply to property owners or those
! who secure the signatures of proper
/ ty owners to contracts.
! AS it was stated several days ago
/ that Mr.. H. w. Beck, secretary Of the
| Light & Development Co., of st. Lou
is, had made the assertion to Mayor
Hinton that the company intended to
operate under the old franchise, the
matter was brought to the attention
of the Council for immediate consid-
Grafton, and special meeting was
called to take action. This, however,
was postponed at the solicitation of
Mr.. Beck, who returned to st. Louis,
Mr.. Smith coming to Paris to appear
before, the Council last night. The
| former, according to the president of
the company, made the statement
without authority. and not until a
meeting of the directors of the com
pany was held in ST. Louis a few days
ago were any of the details taken up
for consideration, and that the exist
| ing conditions had not been brought
| to the notice of the officials of the
company in st. Louis until appraised of
them by local officials of the company
and through newspaper accounts.
The passage of the ordinance by the
Council last night does not in a legal
sense, it is said, affect the old fran.
chise held by the company, but re
lieves the situation, which has for
several weeks been strained to the
point of breaking, through the agree
ment of the company to furnish natu-
raj gas at the rate specified in the
franchise which was purchased from
the Central Kentucky Natural Gas
Company.