<br />68
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<br />TUESDAY
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<br />C:P;:J"Ti'l'D""'1:) 2 '" 1956
<br />UD.... lJ.-u......,..'.J.....JJ.L ./, ,
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<br />T11e regular seLii-monthly rreet.ing of the Council of the City of Martinsville, VirgirrLa,
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<br />','rit:1 li;ayor F. V. 'I:oodson presiciill;~;, was held in the Coun.cil Chwllber, City Hall, on
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<br />Tuesc'ay, S.ptember 25, 1956, at 7:30 P.~ll., allnlerrbers beine )rosent, viz., rLayor
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<br />aLa Coun::::ilman F. V. :,[oodson; Vice-Mayor and Councilman John 'f:. Shultz; and Councilrren
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<br />Bradford H. Hill, E. L. stone, and J. R. Vialker.
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<br />After the invocation, Couxil 8!Jproved as read the minute;) of its regular rreeting
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<br />held September 11, 1956.
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<br />Council dispensnd vlith its regulae order of busines,: to hear Attorney W. R. Broaddus,
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<br />Jr., on bel:a 1f of S outh,YGstcrn Virgin\a Gas Company whose president--Mr. C. T. Williams,
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<br />Jr. ,--and local manager--I-iIr.'Iiarren J. Wat.rous--were also present. Mr. Broaddus presented
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<br />t',IQ letters, copies of which follow, explaining SoutlrvV8stern IS position and request, and
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<br />suggeste,j, that Coun::::i 1 at this time extend the fra:lchisQ gr!Lltcci Southwestecn or purchase
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<br />t:1G local gas company br!mc:1 now upon terns mutually agreeable:
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<br />SelJtember 25, 1956
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<br />Honor able l'Eayor and :LvIember s of City C ounci 1,
<br />I.la:rtirsvilJe, Virgilia.
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<br />As you know, we brought natural gas into the Cit in October, 1952 and ever since
<br />that time Vie r;ave been fcccod with a continuing der&:nd to e~(p2.nd our s;,stem to enable
<br />us to better suppl;- the increasing needs of our present customers, as well as to extend
<br />our distribution system to new customers.
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<br />Cash with which to ir;llJrove our sIstem has come 1'1' em the s 21e of fir st mortage bonds
<br />which in ':he past h~:cvc been sold to Life Insurance Company of Virginia. HOYiT8ver, we
<br />have recf.oived a letter from them, a copy of which is enclosed, in v[hich they cite as
<br />a reason for YlOt buyinp; ackl.tional bonds, the fact, tlE.~ our franclise will expire in
<br />a compe.rativelv short tLJD nnd sirce the expiration of our franchise is a factor over
<br />which we have no control, but vvhich :Ls entirely within /our jurisdiction, we feel
<br />that'iou should be celvised of the situation.
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<br />Unless we; C,Jn sell addi tion;)l first mortage bonds, wo will have no substa.ntial
<br />moniec) with wedeb to expa;id our svs tem and our service to the people of Martinsville,
<br />an. tbe people or Li,':Jrtinsvill? will suffer for t.wo rec~;cns, first hecause our ability
<br />to serve adchtion,cl customers would be seriousl':" curtailed, c,nd seco;1d, bec2use of our
<br />inability to offer g;J.3 service to nei' industr( which otlwrviise might come to
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