The Marshall republican., 1913-10-10
LIGHT
FRANCHISE

Tuesday evening for the purpose OF
considering the proposition OF the
Missouri Gas and Electric Service
Company for a renewal OF its fran.
chise for a period OF twenty years.
The meeting was called to order by
Dr. J. Il. Connell and upon motion
DR.. ID. G. Gore was elected chairman
and Jno. q. Miller secretary.
Upon taking the chair DR.. Gore
spoke OF the Importance of the sub
ject under consideration TO the city
OF Marshall and said that II was a
proper matter for a full, free and fair
discussion.
Mrs J. ID. Fleming requested that
Mr.. Jno. +. Gilchrist the president OF
the Missouri Gas and Electric Ser
vice Company make the first speech
OF the evening. Upon being introduc-
ed Mr.. Gilchrist began by giving n
brief outline of the development OF
the Industry OF lighting by electricity
and its growth as n business. lie said
at first we had electric light. the arch
and incandesent, then power for fac-
tories. which was followed by motive
power for street aud interurban rail
ways. lie spoke OF the development
OF the company with which he Il con-
nected at Chicago. His company at
Chicago had grown TO be 75,000,-
O0O corporation and began TO pur-
chase plants In the smaller towns OF
Illinois. lie said there was economy
IN the larger plants that eau not be
obtained In smaller plants. Railroads
were at first small connecting lines.
have developed into large syJtenis.
The same thing will be true ia regard
60 electricity.
lie then told In detail the pro-
ceedings with reference TO the pur-
chase OF the Marshall aud Lexington
plants from the National Company by
his company. lie said that the fran
ohise expired March 9th, LILA and
that his company had -appiisd -tos q
renewal OF franchise for twenty years.
lie said no community could afford 10
give ten year franchise n rates are
TO be based on such time limit. The
company could not afford TO expend
money In making improvements, II
tie life OF the franchise was limited to
ten years. lie said that the PROPOSE
tlon OF his company gave the city an
option TO purchase the plant ut the
end of ten years and the rates 10 be
readjusted at the end OF each five
years. lie would be willing on behalf
OF his company TO leave the matter OF
read djustment TO the state public ser
vice commission that has been re-
Gently created. lie said the gas fran
chise has nine years yet TO run but
his company was willing TO surrender
that franchise and accept new fran
chise In connection with the electric
plant.
lie discussed municipal ownership.
he said Il was on stand still In this
country and on the wane In England,
lie said that his company had pur-
chased the plants at Marshall and
Lexington for 100000, paying
5000 900 each. The Marshall plant In
cluded both the gas and electric light.
lie said he did not believe his COM
pany paid for the property more than
II was worth. He said both properties
gas and electric light can not be re-
placed in Marshall for 100000.
Mr.. ]. ID, Fleming was the next
speaker he said.
There is recorded on our county re-
cords, hook number NJ, page 395, a
deed dated May 23rd, 1905, from the
Marshall Gas Light Company by Tho
mas Boatright, President, conveying
the gas plant. premises and franchise
TO the Marshall Light, Heat and Pow
er Company Ia New York corpora
tion). for the consideration OF one
dollar.
There Is also recorded In book
number III, page sos, deed dated
the same date May 23rd, 1905, con-
yeying TO the Marshall. Light. Heat
& Power Company, the electric light
plant. premises and franchise. for n
consideration OF $i.00. et,
The deeds I'm each OF these two
cases show a consideration OF one dol
lar, yet It is generally known and un-
derstood by our citizens that the act
ual purchase price was thirty thous-
and each for che properties. or se0,-
900 for both. ,s
On exactly the same date. May 2Srd
1905, the Marshall, Light Heat and
Power Company executed mortgage
to the Knickerbocker Trust Company
OF New York and Owen Ford. trustee