The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-03-13

LIE COuuCll mccUluS OdUuludy
night brought out the usual num-
Der of interested spectators, and in
addition thereto Messrs. w. NJ. Farr
and JnO. Klein, of the Board or
Trade, w. L. Comstock, Gen. oJ. H..
Baker and l.. p. Hunt of the Com
mercial Club, were present represent
ing these bodies as per request OF
the council to consult on the matter
of electric light After Mayor Wea-
yer had called the meeting to order,
Alderman Peterson, of the light COM
mittee, said that he had telegraphed
Mr.. Watkins Thursday, requesting
that he forward a certified check in
the sum of $1,000 as guarantee OF
good faith for the fullfillment of his
proposition to furnish the city with
electric street railway and electric
lights. He had heard nothing from
the gentleman, and consequently the
committee was unable to make any
report for the guidance or considera-
tion of the council.
The mayor then said that the cOun-
Gil would hear from any gentlemen
present representing any Of the COM
mercial bodies.
l.. 2. Hunt said that he was ignOr-
ant of what was expected of the COM
and citizens were mutually interested
in doing that which would result in
the most good to the masses, and he
called upon Gen. Baker for remarks.
The general said that he had only
learned few hours previous that he
was expected to appear before the
council, and that he had not given
the subject the close and careful
study needful to the discussion of the
matter as intelligently .as he other
wise would. He was, however, Op-
posed to the city furnishing its own
light, but water should be furnished,
as it is necessity, while light is
not. Ownership by national, state or
municipality of great interests was
dangerous to the prosperity of the
government. He considered that we
were getting along very well at
present, ana it would be better to 60
slow.
w. l.. Comstock pitted his advice
against haste. The country over has
been undergoing financial stringen-
cy. If anything was done it should
be of substantial nature, not such as
would need repairs soon. Financial
conditions will no doubt improve, and
the city is likely to receive better
propositions later on than now. The
Commercial Club is not in favor of
the city putting in plant of its own;
there has been great change OF SEN
timent in this regard, particularly
among those who hope to see street
cars. If the city ever puts in mu-
nicipal plant it should and will cost
much more money than the city now
has on hand.
John Klein, of the Board of Trade
committee, said that he was not
ready to say anything, as he had ex,
Watkins.
w. M. Farr said that the board had
two or three times voted most de-
cidedly against city ownership. He
was pursuaded that if an electric Cal
line is put in within the next fifteen
or twenty years it would have to be
in connection with lighting con-
tract He believed that the citizens
were opposed to city ownership.
L. p. Hunt said that his views
were already well known. He called
attention to private consumption,
saying that the difference on city
lights would amount to little to the
individual. The individual consumer
should be protected. The old COM
pany has schedule now which is very
reasonable and will compare favor
ably with those in ST. Paul-in fact
the.prices are lower even than those
charged in the larger city.
Gen. Baker said that he was op-
posed to the national government
owning the railroads, but he be-
lieved that both the national and
state governments should control the
railroads. The same should be true
of lighting in city. There should be
free competition, but the city should
retain control. The open, competing
market should be left. Neither the
national, state or municipal govern