The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1893-06-09
The Electric Light Plant For
Jasper.


Some old fogies in Jasper, who are al
ways afraid Of the town spending cent
in public improvements, but who are
otherwise good citizens, always, though.
behind the age, sre, the COURIER is in
formed, circulating remonstrance
against the Town Board contracting for
an electric light plant, to be presented
10 the Board next Tuesday night The
first thing they should determine. be-
fore putting themselves TO any great
trouble, is, whether they are not too
late with their objections. as they are
generally with all public questions.
The petition for the electric light WAS
not gotten up in the dark, nor was 1t q
surprise to any citizen of Jasper. for
they all were informed in regard TO il.
The law was published in full in the
columns Of the COURIER, and every one
bad an opportunity to be informed full
~ a. to the steps to be taken to procure
the much needed electric light plant by
the town. No misrepresentation, Of
any kind, were made by the one who
circulated the petition in order TO OBJ
tain signatures to the petition. and any
one who asserts the contrary is guilty Of
falsehood. The COURIER speaks OF
what il KNOWS, and while any remou-
STRANGE Is now too late, it desires that
there should be the fullest understand
ing in regard to the entire matter. as it
is informed the emonstrsnce states that
there was misrepresen. atoms used 10
obtaining signatures 10 the petition.
Bot does the remonstrsnce come too
late? The law Gays:
"SEc. g." upon the examination Of
said bids. II II shall be proved that the
price asked for said plant shall exceed
more than two per cent. Of the taxable
value OF said town, as embraced In the
tax duplicate Of said town, for that cur
rent year, after subtrscting from the
amount OF said bid any moneys In the
treasury of said town which could be
applied to said contract. then aud in that
event the contract shall not be let. and
said petition for the erection Of such
plsut shall be rejected; but il it is under
two per cent. the contract shall then be
let: Provided, That il any citizen or
citizens shall 10 that time profier to said
town, and secure the payment thereof,
Of q donation TO said town Of sufficient
sum Of money to reduce the sum to be
paid from the town treasury of said
town below the two per cent. Of said tax
duplicate, then ssid petition shall not be
rejected, but the Trustees shall proceed
to contract with the lowest and best
bidder for the construction OF said elec-
trio light plant"
The Board has Ia it's possession three
proposals from a. many different COM
psnies. each one under the amount fixed
by the law. The COURIER endeavored
to get the bids for publication. az did al.
90. DIR. Kempf. one Of the Trustees, bu,
Vas unable TO obtain them to copy, but
they are below the amount fixed The
time for . remonstrsnce TO the Board, ii
any should be presented, was al the sam6
meeting ct which the petition was pre-,
sented. At any time after that meet Ing
II is too late for any effect. Otherwise
Town Board could never be brought
TO any definite proceedings at all. and
petitions and remon strsnces might STOP
oil other business indefinitely.
Some good citizens. however, arc
afraid the town will not be adj 10 sup
port lite plant after IL IL built. There
are many towns smaller than J aspeI
which have had electric lights for years,
and Others. like Rockport, where Tho
stores and residences are furnished with
electric lights, and make the plant pay
but where the town refuses 10 light il.
streets with II at the price per light de.
manded BY the owners Of the plant, and
other places like Oakland City, Peters.
burg, Princeton and Washington, where
the tax payers pay the electric light com
psnies from $40 to SIS per light Der
year. for lighting the streets, while other
towns get ell their street lights abso.
lntely free by owning the plants a. q civ
u corporation, aud selling lights enough
10 individuals to pay the entire expense
OF me plant. This IL what will be done
IN Jasper after the first year, when peo.
pie become acquainted with the light
and the taxpayers will be saved the S4Ot
ayesr now expended for street light,
that fail to light.
Let our people make a little menta
calculation for themselves OF the cos
and income OF the plant the town ha,
determined npon, aud It will put tn, n
10 somewhat more cheerful frame O
mind. We will submit q few figures I,
aid them 10 this calculation: The Treas
urer informed the Board that the
town hsd about $500 at its disposal 4
the last meeting. The highest bid O,
!ne plano was $500. Apply 600 o
the surplus toward paying for the plan,
and II the Board deems II wise to sccep
this bid. u will necessitste the issue O
$500 Of bonds, at 6 per cent interes,
NOW let 10 see the cost Of operating:
.s.escst 90 - ,oOO per yeai o45O
$50 tons OF steam coal at 81 Der ton &c
Engineer ct go per month as
Boy ct $50 per month "a
vi and waste o. per month 4
lper cent for repairs 30
Total Operating cost xlss
The plant Is to have . capacity Of 90
incAndescent lights 10 addition to IN
street lights, - resolved BY the Board