The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-06-02
Municipal Lighting.
Does 1t Pay Towns to
Operate Their Own
Plants2
The Showing at Marquette


brate at Hancock.
The subject OF municipal lighting is
being pushed just now 10 Hancock and
will, no doubt, il the movement succeeds
there be brought forward in other Of our
copper country towns. The News, being
oil conservative turn, thinks that peo-
pie should go slow and consider we'll what
they are about before taking any decided
action 10 such matter. Whilethe NEWS
does not believe that any company. even
II 1t has monopoly, should charge exor-
bitant prices, it does believe that ii would
be scarcely proper to cripple pioneer in
dustry, such asthee lectriclight company,
as long az 1t ia willing to be satisfied with
a lair return for the capital invested. It
should be borne in mind that it is not all
gold that glitters. In some OF the towns
where the people we're prevailed upon by
an array OF figures, which sometimes do
lie, to put in TN electric plant they have
afterwards found it necessary, unless the
people were satisfied to be in darkness
hall the time, to put in duplicate equip
ment, which was never thought Of nor
included in the original estimate when the
lighting by the municipality was decided
upon. The electric light company had
this experience and now has a duplicate
equipment.
There is one thing for. the taxpayers to
keep In mind-the whole body OF them
would have to bear the expense for the
benefit OF the few who would use the light,
Tor but few OF the taxpayers would be
able to bear the expense OF wiring their
houses for electric lighting, be the cost of
the light itself ever 80 small particularly
as those persons who are renting houses
would not be likely to wire another per-
sons house.
The News has not been able to look
into the matter OF the expense OF estab-
fishing plant and running it sufficiently
to give any decided opinion upon the mat
ter, and therefore copies an article from
the Mining Journal Of Marquette, where
municipal lighting has been tried. and, If
the Journal statement is correct, proved
dismal failure, and for this reason we
reiterate the opinion that it Is best to 60
slow in such matters, particularly when
1t is known it is very difficult to get any
president or councilman to watch Tor
leakages in the expense OF running such
plants after they are established. Tor gen
orally It is found that what is every
body's business is nobody's business.
The article referred to aboveis asfollows;
The Mining Journal has been consis-
tent and persistent advocate OF munich
pal ownership OF water supply and light
ing systems. 1t has maintained that,
with proper management, plants Tor sup
plying water and light to urban communl-
ties could be depended upon to render
better and cheaper service when owned
and operated by the communities thus
served than il ordinarily rendered by cor
porations or firms giving the service
under franchise. But it begins to have
some doubts OF the soundness OF it's posi-
tion in the matter, these being raised by
the history of the attempt made in this
CITY to furnish public and private light
ing from the electrical plant on the city's
Dead river property.
pBotb the water supply and electric
plants here are owned and operated by
the CITY. For very many years the water
plant was under wretched management,
and was permitted to run down until the
service became intolerablv poor. Then it
happened that capable board wasgiven
control OF it, and alter patient and pains
taking inquiry into the causes OF the
trouble. and by the expenditure ola large
amount of money under intelligent super
vision, the plant was put in excellent
order and ia today rendering good ser
vice. But to bring it to this state OF ELL
cheney the board had to contend against
stolid common councils on the one hand
nd IGNORANT critics outside OF the coun-
oil nm the other for several years, and 1t
was only through the foresight. firmness
and sound Judgment OF it's members that
the city was finally furnished with q
pumping plant of adequate capacity ana
q system of distribution that leaves little
I'm he desired. 1t is not stating the TACT
too stropply to say that the board when
accommodated all this had to deal with
obstinate councils and a carping, dlsbe,
lieying public for number Oh years, anu
that but for degree OF puDic spirit anu
standard of integrity and inteligence
on it's part not very common III sucn
bodies the city would still be cursed Win
an inadequate system oil water supply
ind service so poor that 1t wouid DC
dear at any price. .,,;.
1Tbe experiment OF furnishing public
and nriyate electric lighting from plant
owned by the municipality was entered
On here nnder the most favorable condi-
ton The city obtained magnlheent
!. Tor mower at low price seven years
400 and proceeded to improve IL LOT tue
nnrnose of furnishing light and power 10
the city and such private users az mlgn,
des;ra the service. The council deiegatea
IN a board. appointed by the mayor WIN
;ts concurrence. and having Lille oil put
one year. the task OF improving one o,
the nowers on the property mentioned
and Installing a lighting plant, and TINS
was done under the direction o' . iI%
board, three OF the members " y, @re
were also members OF the board Oh nrs
and water commissioners wn'cn n a.
brought the water supply system ,roI' ,ys
former uusa tory condition toa n,en
condition of serviceableness. Inc ngn.-
inc n,ant was installed and was success
, sa p she start under the MANAGEMENT OF
.hat hoard. But no sooner had It begun