The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1896-03-19
MR.. WHEELER VERY CLEVER.
observer" Contends That Mr.. Wheeler
Is Not Here For His Health.

Is Not Here For His Health.
! He admits Kenosha treated him
9 very handsomely, and that the wa
ter works contract netted him $4,000.
No wonder he comes again to secure
another contract, 1t is quite amusing
to hear him talk and try to make the
taxpayers think he is here solely'' to
help Kenosha. What are the facts
He is trying to work a scheme" un-
der the guise of a " franchise, !" and in
such manner rs to preclude all COM
petition. He is a slick fellow The
identical same clay out, y if advertised
under specifications, " would have a
plenty of competition and the city would
secure IL 70 per cent. cheaper. He
simply names his own price for his
goods under a blind (franchise) wherein
he uses the city's real estate and the
smoke stack and part of the water
works plant, connecting his engines
with the city water works boilers, using
steam made from the Guys coal. Tan
giles the whole thing up so even a court
of justice could not unravel it, and then
says he has made an offer for light
some $4,000 less than the local com
pany. He tries to make the taxpayers
believe there is millions in it, when he
k9aOacS better. He is simply trying to
sell" his goods.
He worries about certain contract
about to expire with a local company.
Poor man! pity him. He does not
state that the local company will give
the city ample light for $1,000 per year
and furnish e0erythjmg, and that he
wants $4,000 for it,-that is, if he states
the needs of our city, and that the city
shall be to a portion Of the expense in
producing the light.
His option to purchase at u price
that it would cost the city for lights for
five years. What has that to do with
the question :? Absolutely nothing.
Why does he place such emphasis on
this point He never makes a state
ment of labor, material interest, and
depreciation account to run the plant.
Mr.. W. is too shreWd Tor that. He
knows that with the competition in the
lighting business there is in the city,
that he is trying to work off q scheme
that a shreWd private investor would
not listen to for one moment, and that
he doesn't want himself, if he cannot
sell it.
+" The Calamity Figures" (as you
term them), that have been givcu the
public, are facts, and no one h;."ws
it better than Mr.. w
This scheme will not work like Ghe
water works, rs they have no COMPETE
ton. Suppose the city had Dol ur-
chased the Old water works, wnere
would the city water company be to-
day? elm the soup" To run the
plant Mr.. W. is trying to sell, will cost
at least Including interest and depre-
ciation) $4,000 to $4,000 per year,
and if we pay $4,000 yearly in the
plant, the first year it will cost at least
$21, GOO. Can and will the taxpayers
stand that under the present circum-
stances We who have just paid our
taxes have very little cash left. I have
talked personally with nearly one hun
dred taxpayers and have found but one
person in favor Of the city purchasing
Mr.. Wheelers scheme. Taxpayers
should protest against this a0hOleSale
Indebtedness about to be placed upon
the city in such a manner that the
council will see that the people are in
dead earnest, and be brought to the re-
alization that they are but the servants
of the people. OBSERVER.