Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1896-12-25
DOES THE CITY MEAN BUSINESS
In the Matter of Adjusting the Water and
Light Rates?

| iIiS lire since ABOUT MAY last.
! 1t is we'll UNDERSTOOD by the people
generally what the nature of the causes
leading up to the cstrangcment be-
tween these two interests are. In the
first place it is doubtless true in some
respects that the Water, Light ~ Power
company has been more or less dere-
llct at some times in the past in the
conduct OF its affairs in connection with
| its franchises. but We must concede
also that while the water company
probably did not live up strictly to the
letter OF its franchise and we must
also concee;e the important fact that
the city is not altogether blamcless in
the matter. for it not only is unable
to pay for the water and light service
according to franchise agreement. but
1t Is unable at present, owing to it's
deplorable financial condition, to pay
i'll actual money or it's equivalent for
any kind of service or at any kind of
;: rates even though the rates be ever SO
low.
Messrs. March and Wattles arrived
here Sunday morning and invited the
mayor and the council as u whole to
meet them at the Evans hotel for an
informal discussion of tho whole mat
ter involved. Six of the councilmen
met these gentlemen, when IL full ex-
preston was obtained and all matters
of Importance in the dispute we're
mutually agreed upon in the shape of
compromise, the principal features
oil which were submitted to the council
at its session Monday uight, partly
as a report OF the. Water and Light
committee and more fully in tho form
of resolution and an ordinance sub
mitted by the Water, Light and Power
company for ratification of the council
as whole. In view of the very ma
terial concessions in regard to rates
agreed to the ordinances presented. it
does seem to us that these people have
met us II little more than half way in
this controversy. and we are rot only
disappointed, but we are IL little cha
grined, that something definite wa $ not
done at this meeting.
1t certainly must be discouraging
Tor these people who have large sum
OF money tied up here, and who, we are
informed, have fund amounting in
the neighbo1hoodo ofabout $4,000, (Which
has been set aside for the purpose of
improving their plants here, to have
this matter dragged along in this un-
certain state when there seems to be
no excuse whatever for it. Messrs.
Marsh and Wattles made the state.
ment that had favorable action been
taken Oh this matter on the lines agreed
upon by the members of the council
and themselves at the informal meet
ing, they would have gone to work at
once and within sixty days the change
in the power contemplated, for which
changes plans and specifications are
now made and in their hands, would
have been completed, and the miser-
able old flume that has been an eve
sore and nuisance to the people of
this place for several years would have
, been thing of the past, and the water
which by nature belongs to the creek
coursing down its rocky bed affordiug
the sanitary relief that has been a cry
ing need ever since the old thing was
constructed. The firmness and mani
fest good intentions of these people
demand at our hands better treatment
and until we know something to the
contrary their motives should not be
impugned.
That the service, both in the matter
of water and of light, have been greatly
improved under the new management,
goes without saying, and we believe the
people have confidence in the good in
tentions and ability of these people to
do as they promise and ultimately
give us water and light service that
will be not only profitable to the man
agement but at the same time credit
to our city. The rates as agreed upon
for the city hydrants, $50, is, we con-
slider, very reasonable, and while we
do not exactly agree with the council
in the expediency of doing away with
the arc light service entirely they have,
no doubt, given the matter much con-
sideration and their conclusions are no
doubt intended for the best interests
of the city from an economical stand
point. We have city here that is
rather peculiarly situated and are OK
] pected to be more on the dress parade
tan other cities Of our size By rease n
of the fact that we are inviting people
/, to come here and enjoy our climate