The Palatka news and advertiser., 1916-12-08

ties Company who purchased the stock of The Paaka Gas
Light & Fuel Company from me. would dislike very
much for any think mucfess believe that would
do anything underhanded therefore, will quote the fol-
lowing letter which sent by registered mall November
10TH 1916 to Mr. C. l. Day. VicePresiden and General
Manager of The Southern Utilities Company Jacksonville,
Florida:
Palatka, Florida, November 10th, 1916
Mr.. C. |. Day, Vice-Pres. & Genl Mgr
Southern Utilities Company,
Heard National Bank Building,
jacksonville Florida. =,
Dear Sir:
1t is quite probable that you of the fact
that the Paatka Gas Light Fuel Company is now fur
nshng the City of Palatka with gas filled Mazda lamps
instead of lamps commercially known as 1000 candle
power 1t is understood that hundred and ten more,
eighty candle power gas filled Mazda lamps have not been
changed. This change was made by the Plaatka Gas
Light Fuel Co. sometime during the month of October.
Under date of November Sth The Paatka Morning Post
contained the following news item:
"The City Council held it's regular meeting last night
but owing to election returns adjourned after approving
bills and transactng few necessary business"
Being familiar with the Franchise granted the Pa
latka Gas Light Fuel Company the 21st day of Au
gust 1914 which reads that they must furnish 1000
die power lights at not than $500 per annum
1900 candle power lights at not than $6500 per
num- visited the City Hall and asked the Clerk of the
Council to show the bill of The Palatka Gas Light &
Fuel Co. which had been rendered for lighting the streets
for the month of October No change had been made in
the price in other words the bill which had been presented
at the rate Of $500 year for the gas filled Mazda
lamps being furnished to the City of Paatka which
it alleged not than 500 Watts about 400
die power.
told the Clerk not to draw warrant for that bill
until he had it approved by the Chairman of the Finance
Committee which he said he would do | also told him
that would call Mr. B. E. Jarrett the Chairman of the
Finance Committee, and tell him not to approve the bll
which did went to the chairman of the lighting COM
mittee of the City Council and asked him if The Palaka
Gas Light Fuel Company has asked him for authority
(Which knew he did not have right to grant, to change
the 5000 candle power General Electric luminous arc lights
to the gas filled Mazda lamps and he said, mo- That he
didn't notice that the change had been made Then
went to member of the City Council and asked him if
request had been made by The Palaka Gas Light Fuel
Co. Of the City Council to make this change and he also
replied, "No." This morning, l accompanied Mr. B. E.
Jarrett Chairman of the Finance Committee of the City
Council to Mr. j. B. Austns Office Mr. Austin being the
Chairman of the Lighting Committee | read them the
Franchise granted the Palatka Gas Light Fuel Co.
the twenty day of August 1914 and the lighting
tract them the following for having taken
this step to inform you what had been done by The Pa
atka Gas Light Fuel Co. without the authority of the
City Council. | rehearsed to them the trouble and the
breaking up of old friendships that the granting of that
Franchise has occasoned in Palaka told them l did
not believe Mr. Day knew that the Franchise stated that
lney cOuld cnarge more ZOOO candle lights
than $500 per annum, than S6500 per annum
for 1900 candle power lights. told them that did not
believe that you would permit The Palaka Gas Light G.
Fuel Co. to receive for the small lights you furnish
than the Franchise permitted because would be the be-
ginning of attack the present management accusing
them of robbng the people, etc. told them that they
councmen had right to pay the Paatka Gas Light
Fuel Co. any for lights than they entitled to
under the Franchise and the lighting contract made and
entered into the 18th day of January 1915 1t states
Page that the lighting company to furnish twenty
nine lights commercially known 1000 candle
power for the of $500 per per lamp. l also
informed them that this contract granted when was