La Junta tribune., 1917-08-09
CITY COUNCIL
Ten Year Franchise Granted to
Light COmpany-Rates Will He
Same as Now In Force

An ordinance granting a ten year
franchise to the Arkansas Valley
Railway, Light and Power Company
was placed on first reading at the
regular meeting Of the city council
held last Monday evening. The pro.
visions Of this franchise are practi.
cally the same as that which was
granted ten years ago, which will
expire during the present month
The present rates. which were fixed
by the State Public Utilities Com.
mission about a year and . half ago
will remain in force until they are
changed by that body. ~ neither the
city council nor the light company
has anything to say in that matter
except by an appeal to that body
II either are dissatisfied with the
rates In force. Two per cent OF the
gross earnings OF the company will
be paid to the city for the privil-
ege OF doing business In this COM
munity.
Alderman Blankenship was very
enxious to have a clause inserted
In the franchise eliminating the min
imum rate Of 81 per month, as he
was very emphatieally opposed to
paying for something that he did
not use. II he only used fifty
cents worth Of electric current he
was strictly opposed to paying 81 for
II. As the minimum rate was fixed
by the State Public Utilities Com
mission there is no way to elimin-
ate II except by an appeal to that
body and a clause of that nature In
the franchise would be without force
or effect.
Alderman Blankenship used the
otero Gas Company AS 4 notable ex-
ample OF the fact that II was pos
sible for a public utilities corpora
tion to do business In community
without a minimum rate. II the gas
company could exist without . mini
mum rate II ought to be possible for
q light company to do likewise. A.
this juncture Mr.. Updike. president
OF the Otero Gas Company. arose
and said that he was present At the
city council meeting for the purpose
OF informing that body that h WAS
his intention TO apply to the State
Public Utilities Commission for per-
mission TO change its rates for gas
and insert minimum charge to all
consumers. There Ii no provision In
the franchise for a minimum rate
for gas. but owing TO the Increased
cost OF production he had found out
from experience that II would be alb
lutely necessary n he expected TO
continue doinK business In La Junts.
He Informed the city council Of his
intention to apply to the State Pub
lie Utilities Commission for permis-
sion 10 establish . minimum rate. a.
= matter Of courtesy. ~ he WAS quite
well aware that II would be the
final arbiter. Mr.. Updike said that
the Otero Gas Company WAS the only
one In the state that did not have
n minimum rate. He thought that
about 80 cents per month ~ n min
imum charge would be . reasonable
rate In la Junta. but this matter
will have to be determined by the
State Public Utilities Commission.
who will probably investigate the
regular rate for gas ms we'll. Last
month the otero Gas Company had
sixty-four consumers who did not
use SO cents worth OF gas. Where
would the gas company be II all the
consumers were equally as econom.
ical' II II the contention that I,
Ii the Investment neseessary In order
to be prepared TO serve the public
At all times that justifIes the min
imum rate. and that no water. Gas
or light company can successfully
exist without II.
Judge Mcdaniel appeared on he
half Of some OF the property owners
Of Home Place begging for = few
crumbs from the municipal Abun
dance In the way Of water. The gar
dens Of Home Place were about Il
b. wiped out OF existence on account
Of lack Of moisture. and he begset
the city council to fill the reservoir
to overfiowinE 10 that the propert,
owners would be afforded. some r.
I.sf. while be was speaking I
started 70 rain and the moistur'
came dowa 10 great abundance. TIL
aDSsreatiy had . bad effect % IL
sleQ usnes Of the judge. Who was Get
tiag vafns1 W 70 ~ subject u
great sAaps. aad ~ gracefully ~
tire1 With The ebsesvaeiea that ~
Loe1 haA cone - the reltss u th'