The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-03-01
ONE LIGHT COMPANY NOW
The Citizens Is Now a Portion Of
the Helena's Already Extern
slve System.
April / There Will Be a Reduc-
ton in Price to Private
Parties and the City.
souri, for the Purpose of Utilizing It's
Now Wasted Power.

The most important consolidation Of in
terests that has occurred in Helena aimee the
water companies were merged, WAS oonsum-
mated Saturday last. BY it the rights, plant
and franchises OF the Citizens Electric
Light company. became the property of the
Helena Electric company. This makes the
entire light system of this oity the property
of the same gentlemen. both the electric
and gas companies being owned and man
aged by the same people, The new deal
takes OBJECT to-day. but for q little while
the plant Of the Citizens company will be
operated. This will only continue, how
ever, until new machinery arranged for in
the consolidation arrives. This will be
placed in the Helena Co.'s power house
near the Montana Central depot. The
electric plant of the street car company,
owned by the same gentlemen. will also be
removed this summer to the Montana Gem
trail power house, and the company will
have altogether 1000 horse power. No city
in the northwest to-day has a better cleo
trio lighting system than Helena, and it
has been 80 planned as to be able not only
to keep up with the growth of the city but
q little ahead oft. AS arule it has been the
experience that when one corporation con-
trolls the light or water of a city, especially
when the opposition has been taken in
prices to consumers Immediately take a
jump. But in this instance the reverse
will be the case, say the officers of the COM
pany. As they are all men whose word can
be depended upon. consumers may congrat-
uiaSe themselves that they ARE in the
grasp of a monopoly" One Of the s~oficers,
talking OF the consolidation yesterday, said:
by the deal the expenses under which the
two companies have Noeen operating will be
considerably reduced. Our power house is
SO located that we are under the minimum
of expense in handling our business, and
be able to operate the two with but slightly
increased cost over what one plant has
been costing. We know this can be done,
and on the frs. of April there will be a re-
dnction in the price of lights, not only to
private consumers, but to the city as we'll.
There are about a dozen individuals in this
city who, by reason of the competition be-
tween the two companies. have been getting
their lights at less than cost; these people
will have to pay more under the new deal,
but as ] said before, after April | both pri-
consumers and the olty Will pay less.
vice between st. Paul and Seattle, but
lights in Helena will cost less than in any
other city in Montana. There will be no
throat cutting. as in the past. but the CON
solidated company will be run in such a
way as to morit the patronage of the pub
lilo and at the same time pay the stock
holders a fair interest on their investment.
We have every facility for doing the bust
ness economically. and we fully recognize
the fact that in order to retain the con-
fdence of the public, as we'll as its good
will we must divide the profits with the
Wedo not expect to make a
big thing out of the business, and if any
one believes at any time we are, we will be
quite willing to have our books examined"