Note 233 — Chapter XXIV · PUBLIC UTILITIES AND PUBLIC OWNERSHIP

Franchises were often granted in perpetuity. When the laws forbade the granting of perpetual franchises the attempt was sometimes made to evade this restriction by granting them for 999 years. Sometimes the grant of a franchise was put through the board of aldermen or the city council without any notice being given to the public. Loud protests then followed, but they availed little after the grant had been made.