Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 March 1899 — That Twenty Year Franchise [ARTICLE]

That Twenty Year Franchise

A franchise—or rather an et- 1 August 1856 —for 30 yens was ! granted to county Telephone Co„ by the Common Council last Monday night. The original franchise granted this ooac- ; pany in 1803, for a period erf eight years, and with the additkoud 30 years extension, will make a per-jj iod of 28 eight year? use erf the streets and alleys <rf Konsselaer without ONE CENT <rf eeanpensatiou therefor! It is understood that the capital stock ctf this concern was $15.4100 lasi year and now is $28,000. all <rf which as said to contain no WATER whatever. And it is further Tq]*«n**dl jon the best of authority that aMs stock is *1 tetter than v jttr oeait money," that is. this S2B:OA* yields an income of more than $2210 over and above maintenance, ex-,, penses and taxes. Yet this val uable franchise is given away without money and wit hout price! Bui the promise is made cm behalf erf the company that several thousand dollars will he spent here in betterments of this plant a the near future. Not in TAXES, net in payment for the FREE use «f the streets and alley's, hat to re Awe oonseq^fth^ gre«thuable property. Last year this corporation was assessed an threw in the city of Rensselaer, a total of $75. The taxes wiD laml to $a.S9 for the year 189 S. In t§K and 1837 this same oenpatataem was assessed on SEVEN ad» within the city, or $175. Ka the the toll lines along oo hyawlr, $1,900 mas Amassed iTthfecfJ!! pany in Jasper, White and HißWcanoe counties, brtnrt nPOiAAB

this 30 yaasestentinn of the right anaasy Street cralley it may suit it? Sanry to onrtspy. auad to collect toffl therefreoa. this corporation hi irctuim Afwefite ia taxes the into the rifiy treosary. And not all erf this goes to the city, as this eemtffs texes few ail purposes, 1 sttaSe and oomatr. Otoßy •sscimitlly aaaother toll line arikni for life- right to occupy StweHtenw alhys to gain an entrance to alias ditty. ad fit is- reported that the ditty was asked to set the price hrsaA wtqaacr, hut without ■vk ado. "imlefimfia“4}y poetrpoaied."' It ts high time ..that stefj?were-taken to reconsider alias ijutiJßicr ;tnd require this, and |al other tnoepwatisna. to pay its just share df the bunfiens erf gov.crmeadL and suittaMy reeompease „the ditty few.fills valkadbte franchises, riirifetfcs auud jwivferes to the use ctf the stocfts- m»1 alleys of this catty.. >