The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1914-08-14
FRANCHISE SHOULD
Be MORE LIBERAL
AS to Maximum Rates nam
ed for Light and Power.

The important question before the
city council at this time is that of
granting a franchise to a light and
power company. Once granted the
city will be tied by its terms for Pc
riod of thirty years.
This franchise, drawn by special
committee of the council, has been
formally introduced and has passed
it's first reading by vote of 10 to A.
The vote is significant of a purpose
to grant the franchise, though that
there will be amendments considered
is probable. Next Tuesday night the
franchise will come up for its second
reading. And it is at this reading
that the amendments, if any, will be
made.
At meeting of the board of trade
on Monday night Mr.. H. o. Hamm re-
ported some information as to rates
obtained while on recent visit to
Ocala and Gainesville. These rates
are much lower than the maximum
rates named in the proposed franchise
now before the council, and naturally
raise the question in the minds of cit
'2ens, that if they are possible in Oca-
la and Gainesville, why are they not
possible in Palatka?
On Tuesday night some six or
eight councilmen net at the council
chamber with a dozen or fifteen citi-
zens interested in the matter, and The
question of rates in the cities named
were discussed.
President Hunter of the Ocala city
council was present and at the request
of President Yelverton, addressed the
meeting, throwing much light on the
Ocala situation. 1t seems that the
people over in that city have a game
called politics, and there are oppos-
ing factions. They furnish two sets
of figures from their light and power
plant, which is municipality owned and
managed 49, - S'sGsa
The plant is an old one and must
be rejuvinated. 1t must have more
modern machinery and there is plan
on foot now to raise bond issue of
$4,000 to put it in good shape. The
Ocala rates are low.
j. M. Meffert, a prominent citizen
of Ocala, and one who is familiar with
city affairs, in a letter to Mr.. H. 0.
Hamm makes the following state
ments:
"The electric light plant paid into
the general fund from June /, 1911,
to October l, 1918, $22,850; also spent
$5, 100 on extensions of lines and i'm
provements on plant. This was ac-
complished after current had been re-
duced from 10 cents to 8 cents per
killowatt hour to the consumers in
November 1911" -"h
John H. Taylor of the Ocala Ice
and Packing Co., in letter to Mr..
Hamm last Monday, says: "Our city
is selling current at cents per X. W.
for lighting, and down to cents for
power and is still making money"
Mr.. Taylor is an ardent supporter
of municipal ownership, and further
On in his letter says: "All progress
i've cities are owning and operating
their own utilities and there is more
money in the electrict light plant than
all the other utilities combined"
The question now before the Palat-
ka city council, however, is not one of
municipal ownership. 1t is whether
or not the city will grant this fran
chise. 49,.
There are large numbers of citizens
and business men in the city who IA
vor the granting of the franchise,
provided the interests of the city are
properly guarded. Many of them be-
lieve that much better terms can be
obtained than those named in the
franchise read for the first time and
passed by the council at its last
meeting. The present is not time
for captious criticism. Business men
who have suggestions of value to off
er. should offer them. If they are
honestly and determinedly opposed to
the granting of any franchise, they
should say so.
The council has to deal with a com.
pany possessed not only of business
acumen, but a technical knowledge OF
electrical engineering second to nc
bconcern in the south. And the city
Ecouncii, no matter how patriotic its
members, is confronted with an oc'
casion requiring something other thar
the mere purpose to do the rlgh'
thing.
The Gainesville Rates.
T. M. Early, superintendent OF the
Gainesville Municipal Light and Pow
er Co., has furnished Mr.. Hamm witt
the following schedule of rates charg
,, ed in Gainesville:
0 to 10 K. W., minimum, $l.0O
10 to 25 X. W., 8 cents per 4. w
25 to 100 X. W., cents per X. w
100 to 300 K. W., 6 cents per X. w
: 300 and over X. W., 5 cts. per X. W
! The power rate in Gainesville ha
minimum of so cents per horsepow
er, and a rate of from 5 cents to
. cents per killowatt.