Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-03-29
To the Citizens of Great Bend.

J. A. JONES'" in Tuesdays issue of the
DAILY GRAPHIC, and to vindicate our
position.
"Our appeal" as he terms it, was
simply reminder to the people that
we have ever been, and are ready to
supply any and all needs of the city in
our department at fair and justifiable
rates. That gentleman, utterly ignores
the fact that at the time this plant was
installed all electric light apparatus
cost nearly twice as much as it does to-
day. Some new machinery has been
since it's cost is now less than hereto
fore, we propose to reduce our rates to
accord with the outlay This man ''for
Mr.. j. A. Jones' should have looked
before he leaped in attacking the can
die power of our lamps, as they are
identically the same as Mr.. Jones pro-
poses TO furnish, only burning under
better electrical conditions. 1t comes
about i'll this wise: The United States
COmpany's factory burned down some
seven months ago and it was compelled
to buy lamps of the Sawyer-Man Com
pany in order to keep its patrons sup
piled, SO great was the demand for its
lamps. Now, the Thomson-Houston
system has no lamps of its own and the
Sawyer Company supplies it
throughout. Many of our customers
will not see the difference between the
lamps we are now burning and our
original lamp, and we are pleased to
acquaint them of the fact that the
United States Company's factory is
again in operation and we Will soon be
supplying them with their favorite
| lamp.
In regard to the accusation that our
system is inefficient, this statement we
look at as SO much buncOmb, and the
assertion is only made for bluff
in Mr. Jones most characteristic man
ner.
In proof that the United States Sys-
tenn is without a peer we need only refer
to the fact that it has been introduced
into government use in the following
instances, and in many others which
space precludes us from enumerating:
1 The post Offices in st. Louis, Chicago,
Philadelphia, Kansas City, the govern
ment mint at Philadelphia, the United
States steel cruiser ATLANTA" and
also the Cook County Court house,
Chicago; the grand opera house, Min
neapolis, Mimi, put i'll an Edison plant,
| Jour only competitors worthy Of nOte),
ell account of it's cheapness, but finally
elected it and adopted our system in
spite of its greater first cost, they pre-
ferring and demanding the best light.
Does this not fully answer the question,
Have you an efficient electric light
system?" We might in turn, and with
the same propriety, ask, Have you an
efficient water works?
Mr.. Jones claims he has disbursed
$25, 900 IN this city. If SO, where has
it gone and what for? In view of the
fact that the mayor and councilmen
are individually and collectively above
OU0pIC1Oi1, VIC hCly NIL
Jones' statement in this respect.
Too many of our citizens are suffer-
ing from an indigested pile Of Mr..
jones' that took lots of water to get
down their throats i'll the shape of a
three months water test, for him to OBJ
tain franchise for any more public (?)
Improvements. But in all seriousness,
we wish to impress upon the minds of
the citizens and councilnen that we
are willing to supply the needs of the
city as soon as the council see it ad-
visable and within their pecuniary re-
sources.
We only ask of the city council the
protection that the outlay of home
capital so far made demands, and re-
quest no more than we would be will
ing to grant were our respective posi-
tions reversed. This is certainly not
asking anything unreasonable, nor
nothing more than any company conf
posed of citizens of this city would or
could ask and reasonably expect to be
granted. Any assurance that we would
not fall short of our agreement is hard
ly necessary.
Very Respectfully,
CT. BEND ELECTRIC LIGHT Co.