Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-02-24
Falls Press does not want to participate
il may sulk in its tepee. Dakota can
move without it.

1t appears from recent proceedings
that portion OF the city council is
again endesvoring to prevent the estab-
lishment OF system of electric lighting
in the city of Yankton. Two years ago
when an electric light company Was or
ganizsd and was ready to begin opera
tions majority of the council crushed
the enterprise. Finally another company
was organized and proceeded with the
development OF system of water power,
under the encouragement of the coun-
oil, which seemed TO have repented of
it's previous act of hostility and to have
accepted the wishes of the
people as O guide to its official action.
Under this encouragement the new cleo
trio hight company purchased ethe ma
chinery which comprises the plant and
had it shipped to Yankton. The appli-
ances are all on the ground or under
shipment, and the power, produced ct
considerable expense, is ready for the
machinery. At this iunotnrea portion
Of the CITY council manifests the old time
hostility and once more threatens to
outrage the desires of the people and
suppress the electric lighting i'm
provement. For this conrse there
is no reason or cause beyond per.
sonal reasons. For these personal rea-
sons this community has for two years
suffered the retardation of its develop
ment. There Is no question but that the
property owners and tax payers of Yank-
ton desire to progress and that they are
becoming very impatient over the STUN
bling blocks thrown IN the way by those
in authority. All the electric light COM
pany asks is the privilege of erecting
poles and wires in the streets and alleys
of Yankton and if at any time it is
deemed advisable to grant a like privi-
lege to any other company il can be
done on the order OF q majority vote of
the voters of Yankton. There is nothing
in the privilege asked which will pre-
vent the city from creating its own
light at any time. So the grant asked
for is merely privilege to erect poles
and wires and maintain them.
Those who oppose the introduction OF
the electric light advance the proposition
that the city establish and main
tain its own electric lighting works.
This the city cannot do, unless It aban-
dons another enterprise vastly more i'm
portant and one which will not come to
us through private enterprise. II can.
not build its own electric lighting works
and secure railroad just ready to come
to us under promise of assistance. The
city cannot do both. Does the oity
want on electric lighting system OF it's
own worse than it wants o new
railroad and railroad bridge
We need hardly ask this question. The
good sense OF the people would give an
unanimous negative answer. More es-
peeislly SO when the city can secure both
tbs railroad and the electric light-one
by public enterprise and one by private
enterprise.
Its the acme OF suicidal foliy for
any of our city officials to attempt to
drive out private capital which proposes
to give us great public improvement !.
It has been done once. 1t remains with
the people OF yapkton to say whether or
not it shall be done again, You men OF
Yankson who own the properly and pay
the taxes assert your authority. Gel
together and demand that this folly
shall cease and that no petty prejudice
shall stand between you and the for.
tunes almost within your grasp.