Evening journal., 1913-04-03
History OF Franchises
For Electric Light and
Power Privileges on The
Streets of Wilmington


The recent application, by new corpora
ton. for franchise to use the streets of Viii
mingtOn, has raised the question in many minds
as 70 what the city has gained from those. al
ready granted. and what has become of the
privileges conferred. These are very natural
and important questions in which the people of
Wilmington have vital interest and we desire
to give the following facts, which are, we be-
lieve substantially correct:
The Arnoux Electric Co. seems to have been
the first to distribute electric current, closing
out its business in 1886 to its successor, the Will
mingtOn City Electric Co. Neither of these com
panies appears to have given much attention to
franchise matters, but devoted their energies
mostly to extending their lines and developing
business, which was in its infancy at that time.
These companies and their properties are now
leased to the Wilmington & Philadelphia Trac-
ton Co.
The Fort-Wayne-Jenney Electric Co. ap-
piled TO the Mayor and Council for franchise
about 1887. The application was acted upon
favorshly by Council, hut before the mayor an
proved it, it came to his knowledge that the
rights were sought for speculative purposes and
he disapprOved the application.
The Wilmington LIGHT Heat g Power Co.
secured franchise in 1894 hut did not estab-
fish itself in business. Instead its interests be-
came associated with the Wilmington City Rail
way Co., and the Wilmington City Electric Co.
The Universal Light. Heat and Conduit Co,
which secured franchise for gas and electric
privileges, became the property of the old gas
company.
The Wilmington Electric Light & Power
Co. secured franchise and after consolidating
with the Demarvia Telephone Company, formed
new Company known as the Wilmington
Light Power TeleuhOne Company, which
built thoroughly modern, up-tO-date power
plant and distributing system. In 1910, the
electric light and power business and property
of this Company became the Wilmington Light
& Power Company. This Company continued to
operate its property until leased to the Whining
ton & Philadelphia Traction Company in 1910.
The Consumers Producing & Supply Co..
which applied for franchise, was refused the
privilege by the Street and Sewer Department
The Brandywiue Gas & Electric Co, which
applied for franchise (Which was not granted)
finally became associated with the Delaware
Electric Transmission Co.
The Delaware Electric Transmission Co Sc
cured franchise but never engaged in bust
ness. The Wilmington & Philadelphia Traction
Co. now has an interest in this franchise.
The Wilmington City Electric Company IN
1911 applied TO the city authorities for fran
chse confirming IFS previous rights and use Of
the streets. This franchise contains a clause
limiting the charge nv the cOmnany to not more
than ten cents (l0c) per kiIOwstt hour. al
though its property had been built up withOu.
any limitation as 70 rate
The Public Utility Light, Heat & Power Co.
recently failed 70 secure franchise after most
~I.o.rr liz to-. L. 4
Sewer Department This company was said to
be associated with a railway company, which
the public was repeatedly assured was NOT
FOR SALE. II was, however, reported TO have
been SOLD a short time ago.
Thus with all the franchises and near-fran.
chises which the city of Wilmington has granted
and considered. only two have been used as the
city believed and understood they would be,
and these two are the Wilmington City Electric
Co. and the Wilmington Electric Light & Power
CO. both now operated by the Wilmington &
Philadelphia Traction Co., under the control of
the proper city authorities The Wilmington
& Philadelphia Traction Company has spent
hundreds of thousands Of dollars the past few
years in removing duplicate poles and wires
from the city streets and making other neces-
sary changes in plant and equipment to create
one comprehensive electric light and power sys-
tenn out of the two. These various other fran
chlSes, which you VIII please bear IN mind have
absolutely no vestige of property value have
cost the companies which carry on the business
vast sums of money, and have constituted
needless burden to the industry and serious
handicap to a reasonable, rational reduction il
the cost of serving YOU and every other citizen
of the community.
This is the history of the past, and we ash
you, in all sincerity. what Of the future? Is i
to be more speculative franchises-mOre dupli
catiOn-mOre waste of money OR no more
franchises no more speculative enterprises, bu
a successful light and power industry, con
Quoted along sane and substantial business
lines with the natural hope of declining cos
of service based on rational conditions?
We ask you TO consider these things
calmly and seriously. One has no right TO judg
the future, in matters of this kind at least, ex
cept by the record of the past, and that we hav
given you. We believe your best iudgmen
should and will show the wisdom of OppOsin