Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-05-06
Franchise Granted
Albany Concern to
Extend Lines Here
Council Puts Through Measure AT Lengthy
Meeting To Reach City BY Jan. I. Rates
Same AS Albany

The way was opened by the cit
night for the development of an ind
possible heretofore because of the
the meeting a franchise was granted
build electric lines and distribute ele,
is the company which is completing a
at Albany, and the power transmissiC
The concern also has other large pro
According to Vice-P President You
tower line between Albany and Anne
distribution Of electricity here by jar
cern will be sold power at the same
maintaining a single rate prescribed
This rate is considerably lower tina
tricity now being supplied locally to
company. A comparison Of rates il
edition. Although all consumers will
wholesale power users.
The meeting of the council at
which the franchise was passed was
the longest held by that body in
many days. No representative of the
Americus Lighting Company, whose
interest as competitor will be direct
ly affected by the coming of th1
lower-priccd concern, was preseat,
1he Georgia-Alabama Utilities was
represented by r. S. Marlborough,
secretary and treasurer, Edwin
Sterne, vice-president of the Citi-
zens First National Bank of AL
bany and associated with tey md
Shemmeral, operators Of the Ieor-
gia-Alabama Utilities, and F. l.. Tel
land general superintendent of tie
Georgia. Alabama Utilities.
Previous application for the char
ter had been made by Vice-Presi-
dent Young, of the company, who
has made several recent visits to
Americus, and the document had
been drawn for consideration by the
council by City Attorney Lane when
that body met. 1t had been drawn
by him following several meetings
of the council water and light com
mittees on the subject. Considerable
time was spent in the council meet
ing making alterations in the terms
of the franchise and discussing it.
The franchise is for a term of 25
years, and under its conditions the
company must be prepared to begin
furnishing service to the people of
Americus in one year. but provides
an extension of six months on proper
showing by the company Of good
faith and unavoidable delay
No Exclusive Grants.
Sc L., &c
competing franchise, which is al
ready held by the Americus Lighting
Company, neither of them being eX-
elusive franchises.
President Young informed
the mayor and council at recent
interview that in case a franchise
was granted and the city wished to
avail itself of the company's serv-
ice, its whole electric demand would
be subject to the wholesale power
rate of 2:5 cents per KWh down, in
cludng street lighting and power for
all other purposes. The city is now
paying 5.8 cents per XVIII for street
lighting, including service of re-
placements of lamps and until it be-
gan furnishing its own power for
those purposes recently was paying
the high commercial lighting rate for
city hall. clock, fire station and
other lighting.
Mr.. Young further assured the Of
ficials that the company had ample
power already developed or avail
able for any increase. in demand for
power here, stating that the com
panv was in the business of selling
power and was eager to enter Amer
icus and develop business.
For several weeks agents and en-
gineers of the company were active
here making a survey of possible
patronage, cost of coming in, etc,
before the franchise was asked, the
company determining first, to ITS
own satisfaction. that it would tind
this city a profitable market 1T IS
understood no attempt was made to
solicit possible customers.
Text cf Franchise.
Following is the text Of the fran
chise as enacted bv the council and
signed bv Mayor Sheppard: -
"An Ord nance Granting Permission
and Consent to giaAlabama
Utilities. CORPORATION. Its Succes-
sors and Assigns to Occupy the
Streets Allevs and Public Hi@h-
ways of the City of Americas, Ca.
in Constructing. Maintaining Ex-
tending and RepairiIg Poles. Lines
"nd Anrliances Transn1ittin@ and
Distributing Electricity and for
Other PURPOSES.
'tSECTIONs BE Is Cedained by
the hlavor and city council of Amer
iens. Georgia. and i is hereby or
dained by authority of. same. thst
authority. permission and consent IS
herebv GRANTED TO GEORGIA-AI A-
BAMA UTILITIES. a cornoration. its