The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1892-03-10
TO THE CITIZENS OF LOGAN
From the Reouhlican Gazette I

able discussion gong on among OF
citizens, as well as the Village Counc
IN regard to the question OF lightin
the village IN the near future wit
electric arc lights instead OF gas. :
at present. Also as to the prophet
ana pohcy ei the towns owing, Con
trolling ana operating the plant, {
else let the contract to some individu;
company or corporation.
" In the hrst place, the tow
mas mol .he iegai authority to do
%ilnout specia' ehaon.g act iror
the i'ee'siature so authorlZing 1 al
OF inc opinion 'hst the Town Shout
not; as ihHleer vi pubhc poiicy a
wei as Ia fhess anu honesty, engage
any oasiness : IN compeli'loh PEI with ne
own c'.'zens, especia'ly so when yo
nave al EASING contract WIN com
Pahy mhicn mas iaree cap'tai ihveste'
lor lhat purpose. ara from whom tn
own mas 'on Years PAST u.a"h heav.
t"Adtioh' wow as c'tiZen. ta'
payer aha one VINO Is IN Tor improve
ment ahq reai oeheht o! our town,
"ouio urge 'ne necessary OF very
csreiu. i"Ves,'9a'ion' ana Iuil discus
s'on oi 'he suoJec. oe'0re ore committing
u .axpa! ers OF the village 10 tins
great expenditure ana outlay OF capi'
tal. lake your peneil ana pager ana
ngure lne aosoiu1e hrst cos. ana me
running expenses Gohhecteu therewl,h
ana then the prooao,e results IN the
way OF recelpls tiierelromc l ieel
qute sure you VIII oe sa'isheo II is
no, o the proper 'nihs 10 oo. -,
w, opon ihtes'isat'ou you Will
ma inat 'owns oI neal our SIZE and
population, who own the electric light
plant have not iound 1t either satis-
factory or prohtabie Where the town
owns the plant, the management is
controlled by political influence and
power. by capaDis and honest, or, in
capable ana dishonest management,
as the case may happen 10 be. Hence
frequent changes IN the management,
without practical knowledge and ex.
perlence' VIII occur; therefore 1t can
not be run at minimum cost, as 1t
would by individual enterprise, for
the reason that an lndividual or cor
porate company wouid only employ
capab BILE; ethc'ent ana honest manage
ment: who would iooK alter the busi-
ness IN the smallest detail, while IN
the case OF the town, IL would De
matter Oh personal popularity ana IN
huence. Hence oy reason OF incap-
able and inexperienced maiiagament,
you would hnd IT would result IN Ire
quent less OF lie ana properly.
(ol AS you are doubtless aware.
nearly every city that is nshted Wiih
electricity mas cohtrionted its victims
10 the deaa iist' ana many OF our most
disastrous hres IN the larger cities
have originated from tne eiectric vines
coming IN contact with comoushnle
Tatier, as WAS evidenced BY the cent
hre IN New orleans, %ners ne rel dhe loss is
estimated at over Sl,ooo'oOo. are we
IN position 10 assume so great and
hazardous a respons'nli'E! FOR IA
stance, should single HE De sacr'ic-
ed or valuable property be destroyed
by reason OF coming IN contact with
the electric wires; the town would be
mulcted IN such heavy damages that
it would take Years to recuperate from
the effects ol 1t. :.
~ 1t our citizens really desire
electric light Instead OF gas think the
sensible and economical ihlng to do is
to let the matter rest until near the
expiration OF the present contract with
The Logan Gas Company, and then ad-
vertise the letting OF he contract, to
gether with The iranchise' 10 the low
est responsible bidder Tor ei'her gas,
or bo!h: lou Will have
such brisk competition from the num-
erous local companies. as well as for
eign corporations, as to insure getting |
t at low price, ana VIII know the |
.xnct cost and responsibility OF the
'illage to cent. Whereas, /: owned !
md controlled by the town, you are
IN danger OF being held lia-
dc for damages to lile or property de-
'.royed without any adequate COM
,ensation therefor. 1t the contract Is
ct 10 the lowest responsible bidder,
-ou Will by reason OF Inc competition
'fiered, get contract Tor the Lighting
}! the town at very reasonable pr ice
md be re!ieved+rom all luther iiabI'
iiv: l an OF the opinion that honesty
$ the best OF poiicy' as wen as duty