The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-02-22
skirts. but Alderman Widell wanted

than the 1900, for the city could af-
ford to use more lamps to better ad-
vantage. We have not lights enough.
People are before the council fire.
quently asking for better lights, and
he thought that the number of 200
lights should be raised to 100, though
he endorsed the suggestion that
Front, Second and Third streets
should have the 1000 strength. He
stated that few of us can discern the
difference between the weak and the
strong power of light and that if they
were interspersed the city would get
better results.
Alderman Bashaw fell in on the
idea that there were not lights
enough, and remarked that the
prairie in the vicinity of the hospital
was Illuminated by only three lamps.
There was a short economy talk
with all participating when Alder
man Fowler cut it short by saying:
..'There are people in this town who
Imagine the Street Railway company
is getting rich"
Alderman Petersen wanted to know
what the company charged for store
lights and Mr.. Hubbard said he did
not know. Mr.. Brown, the collector
for the Light company, said the cost
was Sc per month for the 10 o'clock
and for the II o'clock service.
Mr.. Meagher said the spirit of the
council was intended to be fair.
When the subject was first agitated
they did not accurately figure the
difference in cost between the 1920
and the 1000 candle power lights. But
as the council has made proposition
and the company was willing to meet
them half way, he moved to amend
Mr.. Fowler's motion by placing the
cost of the 1900 candle power light at
$50 per annum. The council, he said,
should ask for no further reduction as
that was the lowest figure that could
be made.
Alderman Widell seconded Mr..
Meagher's motion and it was put to
vote. Chairman Higgs said the mo-
tion was not binding, but merely to
ascertain the sense of the council on
the amendment.
The roll was called and Alderman
Widell and Bashaw voted aye and
Higgs, Pitcher and Fowler nay. 1t
was lost.
A vote was then taken on Mr.. Fow-
ler's motion to accept the contract of
the 1900 candle power lights at S75
and the motion was carried, Alder
men Bashaw, Pitcher, Widell and
Fowler, voting aye, Alderman Higgs
not voting. The mayor came in at
this juncture but he laughed when
they asked him to vote.
Mr.. Hubbard said there isn't man
in this town nor man in this state
who can light this city at $75. There
may be appliances invented in the
future whereby it can be done, but
there are none out yet. We made as
low aprice originally, he said, as the
work could be done for at a profit He
said he is heavy taxpayer here and he
has not been treated as well as he
might have BEEN He stated that he
is here because he is anchored too
strongly to break loose, and being here
he wanted only what was right. He
knew there were people who were
hoping the company would lose it's con-
tract. There was no denying the fact
One man can yell fire and he soon has
a following. At even $50 per year the
Light company would be secure
enough, for the loss would have to
come out of the r. d. Hubbard Mill
ing company. There was no use talk
ing OF sympathy here, he said, all we
want is what is right.
The mayor asked him what the
company had rather do.
Mr.. Hubbard stated that he wanted
to please the city. AS a matter of
choice he had rather furnish the 1000
candle power light at $95, and put in
lamps to the limit of the plant.
Alderman HlggS interpOsed with
list of six Minnesota cities with
electric lights which cost on an
average of S95 each, three with 1,2OO
and three with 1000 candle power
lights. These cities were Owatonna,
1,200 candle power; Saltwater, !, POO;
WaSeca, 1900; Little Falls, 1000: st.
Cloud, 1000, and WiIona 2,OOO
Little Falls and St. Cloud use water
power, and Saltwater sawdust for it's
fuel. Seven cities in South Dakota,
said Mr.. Higgs, with an average OF
1,600 candle power light, pay an
average of 1922 per annum for each
light.
Alderman Bashaw suggested that to
get the matter off the hands of the
meeting, that the company accept the
S75 proposition.
"We can meet that figure" said Mr..
Hubbard "by facing a loss of SIS per
year for each lamp" He remarked
that the council has it in it's hands to
ruin the company, and he did not be-
lieve they wanted to do it. The only
way the company can make any profit
at all at $50 was because the Milling
company was furnishing power for the
electric light for about one-half what
it would cost them with their own
plant. He asked Mr. RaShaw if ha