The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-02-15


Alderman Pitcher said that two
years ago the people were in favor of
the city owning it's own electric
lighting plant, but he was not sure
they were of that mind now, and he
did not believe they would counte-
nance it at present or endorse the
action of the council in going into
debt to build and equip it's own plant
Alderman Higgs thought NUM-
cipality could furnish light cheaper
than individuals as a commercial ven
ture, but the light would have to be
supplied to consumers at actual cost.
The finances of the city are not in
condition to go into the lighting bust
ness now, and the council should
make favorable contract with some
company.
L. p. Hunt said that he cO-incided
with Mr.. Higgs' views. He thought
the clamOr for the city own
ing its own plant came chiefly
from those who had given the sub
ject the least thought. The more
machinery that is thrown around a
municipality the more corruption is
to be found, and that is the history of
all cities. The council has all it can
do with water works, streets, bridges,
ETC., without going into debt for an
electric light plant.
J.C. Wise said he had expressed his
opinion in his newspaper a few days
ago. He did not believe the city
could own and operate plant and
furnish light cheeper than it could
be purchased. He thought that
the gas rates should be more
amicably adjusted to the wants of the
consumer. If an amicable arrange
ment can be made with the lighting
company he did not favor the city
owning it's own plant and he urged
the council to drop all thought of
furnishing commercial lights.
"Why cannot the city build plant
as cheap as this company" asked
Fowler.
Alderman Pitcher said he would
like to hear from the mayor. "The
mayor has nothing to say said Mr..
Weaver, she came here to listen"
Mr.. Peterson, having been called up
on, said he was undecided. We were
troubled over the same matter two
years ago, he said, and as the present
council had but six weeks more to
serve, he was congratulating himself
that the question was to remain as it
had been. Now it hobs up again. He
stated that he could not understand
how the city is going to be any better
off with ,200-candle power. light at
SS5 than with a 2,000-candle at S115.
He thought that a majority of the
people are in favor of the city own
ing its own plant.
Widell said he was positive
that if the city takes hold of this
matter the charges will be unequal
in cases of large and small consumers,
as in the water works, and there will
be a generally unsatisfactory result.
The city cannot run it as cheap as the
company, and majority OF
the people are of that opinion.
Alderman Bashaw wanted the city
to advertise for bids and ascertain
what outsiders would do the work for.
Alderman Peterson said the street
railway company will probably ask
on July 1st for franchise for an cleo
trio line. Their tracks will be i'm
practical with the spring thaw. He
wanted to know what Mr.. Hubbard
thought of buying the street railroad
out.
Mr.. Hubbard said that the company
proposed to stand by it's contract in
regard to furnishing power for cleo
trio railways, whenever demand
for snch power was made.
Mr.. Meagher closed the meeting by
saying a proposition had been made tc
the council without any previous con
sultation on the SUBJECT, but he asked
that the council take the matter I'm.
der advisement. He stated that the
meeting had opened the avenues OF
discussion, but nothing had beer
done and it would be well to meet
again in joint discussion before the
regular meeting of the council, to dis
cuss the formal proposition, if it was
suitable, and if not what modification:
would be necessary to make it so.
Chairman Higgs assented to the
proposal to hold another meeting, anC
on motion of Alderman Fowler the
meeting will be held Friday night il
the parlors of the Saulpaugh.
The undersigned will sell at pub
lie auction at Rapidan station, Marcel
IL, 1895, all the horses, cattle, pigs anC
farm machinery belonging to the sta