Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1917-06-16
MATTER OF GRANTING.
Continued rom PAGE u

Continued from Page H.
matter which ] believe will be IN the
interest of the public.
In bringing these matters to your
attention / assume that whatever is
for the best interest of the people of
Martinsburg will have first considera.
alton at your hands.
THE investments here~o-0re made
I by one company or the benefits that
may accrue to another company by
reason Of having franchise granted
them are. or should be, matters Of sec
ondary consideration. The object Of
+ one is to retain for itself a dominant
position in the light and power bus.
mess in Martinsburg, and the pur.
ipose of the other is to increase, by
reason of the grant of this franchise,
the value Of their plant and to Sc,
cure a larger field of operation.
This is no doubt the object of these
two companies. They are influenced
in their actions by motives of private
advantages only and if any benefits
are to be derived by the people of
Martinsburg, they must be secured
before this franchise is granted, 9TH
erwise the people of this city will be
in the same position relative to the
light and power business as they are
at the present time.
The statement made by the rep
resentatiyes of the Northern Virgin.
ia Power Company that it is their in
tention, If granted franchise, to
construct their lines by using the
present poles of other companies now
doing business in Martinsburg, is
entirely worthless, and is not binding
upon them in any particular.
1t was brought out for the purpose,
| have no doubt, of allying senti-
ment against the erection OF. addition
al poles on our streets and to pre-
vent any objections that might be
raised on that account.
/ am firmly convinced that it is
their intention, il granted the fran
chise, to erect poles and string wir-
es whenever and wherever they may
deem it necessary. No citizen, under
the terms of this franchise, will have
any legal right to object, and If we
are to judge the future from the past
actions of public utility companies,
the desires or demands of the indiv-
idual citizens will receive scant con-
sideration.
AS stated above. and advantages to
be derived from the granting of this
franchise must be secured before it
is acted upon and not act after the
ordinance is passed. After the fran
chise is granted and the company has
secured from the city all the rights
they desire, we are in no position to
| make terms or to compel competi-
ton, nor is it probable that there will
be any competition in the light and
power business. do not think it
takes prophet to foretell, that those
two compaies acting from purely bus
mess motives will get together for
their mutual benefit and to use
slang expression The people of Mar
Itinsburg, will hold the bag"
These two companies are CONTROL
ed by business men and whatever is
to their best interests will guide their
actions and no consideration will be
given to the people of Martinsburg
except in so far as it will be for the
mutual advantage and profit of these
two companies.
The Northern Virginia Power Com
pany has at the present time a fran
chise to do business in the City of
Martinsburg. They have. I believe, a
| legal right to file a schedule OF rates
for light and power applicable to
,Martinsburg and to have their SEIZED
ule approved by the Public Service
Commission of the State of West