The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-20
FOR CITY OWNERSHIP
Mayor Thompson Expresses His Views
on Matters Of Importance.
THE LIGHT PLANT NATTER
Frank Stephens Is I'm Favor OF
Municipal Ownership OF Car
Line, Water and Electricity
Sunday Town Gossip.
THE LIGHT PLANT MATTER

Much discussion has been around by
the project of Butte owning its own
electric light plant. Most Of the ctti-
Gems who have expressed themselves
seem to favor the idea. Mayor Thomp-
son was asked by a Standard reporter
Yesterday to give his views on the
question, and said:
.'It is a matter for the people to de-
eide, and 1 am strongly in favor OF
submitting the question to the people
and let them decide whether they want
to construct a plant for the city's use
or not I believe in the rule OF the
people / believe that all such ques-
lions should be submitted to vote of
the people. They should decide wheth-
err the experiment should be tried or
not Whatever may be their desire as
expressed by their vote next spring, L
shall carry out"
What do you think an electric plant
sufficient for municipal needs would
COST"
THAT I can't say yet. have not in
| vestigated the subject sufficiently and
| don't think anyone has figured on the
matter yet. Before the election 1 Will
have the city engineer figure on what
| the plant would cost. and all the IN
| formation obtainable will be laid be-
| lore Ine DtOplc lHdl tuCy may w. 80
| diligently on the proposition. i Will
have the engineer estimate on plant
sufficient to furnish twice as many
| lights as are now furnished. Butte Is
not likely ever to need more than that.
What is contemplated by the terms
municipal ownership Of electric light
plant?'"
IT understand that 1t is SIMPLY con-
| templated that the city shall construct
| a plant to furnish lights for Its own
use: that is, for street lighting, and
lighting the municipal buildings. / am
| not in favor OF the city going into COM
petition with private enterprise to fur
nish electric lights to private consum-
/ ers. 1t is all right for the city to build
a plant to furnish the city lighting, but
| I do not think 1t proper to go any fur
| Their than that, and ] would not BE- In
| favor of the city competing with Pres
/ ent companies in furnishing elect: &c
lights to individual Gus. omers. Do net
| understand that the present plan con-
templates anything more than the city
Just furnishing ligats for municipal
| use"
| The electric Hight plan passed the
| council unanir, ously, and most OF the
| aldermen understood tho p-oject mere
| ~ to contemplate The construction OF a
/ plant to furnish street lights. The pcp-
| lists, however understood the plans to
1
habitants of the city. Frank Stephens
one of the leading populists of the city
| said yesterday, What is the use mon
keying with the thing at all unless tt G
/ inhabitants of the city are to he FUR
| nished with lights and thus benefited
/ It is of no use to construct a plant
merely to furnish street lighting. Why
not benefit the people individually also?
/ II this is a good thing TO 60 into half
| way, II is a good thing TO SO into the
/ whole way. II IL n a good thing for
| the citizens as a city, collectively. IL Is
a good thing for the citizens individu-
ally.
Think Of all that the people of Butte
| would have saved II they had con-
structed their own water plant instead
of buying water from company right
/ along. The people of Butte would save
$3.50, 900 every year If they owned their
| own electric and water plants and
street railroad systems. The idea OF
| city ownership of water works Is that
! every consumer shall pay a rate just
4 sufficient to cover the operating ex-
penses of the plant, the cost Of repairs
| the interest on the bonds and the
amount which should be put in the
| sinking fund each year. Then the peo-
| pie would get the benefit of the profit
and instead of dividends being paid fol
eastern capitalists, water rents would
be reduced to Butte consumers. The
same with the electric light plant, the
charges to each consumer should be
Just sufficient to pay the cost of oper-
ating after the plant is paid for. The
street railroads should be bought too
and the car fares fixed at just such q
rate as will cover the operating ex-
penses after the plant Is paid for. Here
the city is giving away one valuable
franchise after another, and corpora
lions are getting the profit on these
franchises, whereas the city itself ought
to be getting the profit.
Erecting a plant to furnish street
lights is nothing at all. 1t isn't worth
paying any attention to-"