The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-02-26
LET THE QUESTION AGAIN BE
SUBMITTED.

". ul. Il ~ OOhSl w PiS'NhO ohiN SeAS W
$4,000 electric light bonds. contains
several points of great interest to the
taxpayers of the city, if they are based
upon facts that are absolutely correct.
Certain it is that most rosy view is
taken of the floating debt of the city
when it is stated that on the first of
June next it will be only $4,000.
This would certainly be fine thing
for the taxpayers, but this rosy view
is arrived at by eliminating therefrom
some $4,000 paid out for local i'm
provements which is "due and pay
able by special assessments" True it
is due and payable by local assess
ments. And some of it has been for
many years, but the important part is
that it is not paid, and only a small
percentage Of it is ever likely to be
paid. Indeed the city may doubtless
deem itself extremely fortunate if it
realizes anything like 30 per cent of it..
The mistake of the city in this in
stance was that it made claim for
the whole amount with no allowance
whatever for many claims that are
worthless. This has tendency to
cast a considerable of a shadow of
doubt over some of the other claims
that are made in the reply.
They put forth the fact that the
waLerworks are paying the city small
profit, possibly with the idea that
people will think that if this strue
then there will be no question but
what an electric lightsplant will also
pay. But an electric lighting plant is
quite another piece of machinery.
Probably the most important point
the city sets forth in it's answer is,
that it can put in plant of it's own
and furnish 1000 candle power lights
at $50 per year, and that the plant can
be put in for the $4,000 bonds it wish
es to sell. 1t gives no authority for
such an assertion. Probably none
was needed in the reply in question.
But the speople would like to know
something about this new assertion,
and as the council is simply the peo-
pies servant, and has such important
information on it's hands it should
take the people in it's confidence on
this point and not contine itself to so
much star chamber procedure.
The FREE PRESS doubts very much
whether their last assertion can be
made good. 1t will be remembered
that Prof. Shepardson stated before
the council that S75 contract with
private company would be good one
for the city, and his last figures placed
the expense for the city producing it's
own light at only trifie below that.
1t has never yet been demonstrated
that tirst-class lighting plant can be
put in for $4,000. The claim was so
made when the agitation for the bonds
was first started. but was 50 thoroughly
exploded that it was quickly dropped.
Doubtless plant could be put in for
that sum. But whether it would be
such plant as the city would want is
entirely another question, and all in
formation to Othat point so far ad-
duced has been most decided against
it. In fact, if memory serves us right,
Prof. Shepardson's figures on a first
class, up-to-date plant, such as the
city would want, was considerably
above those figures.
But why does the council continue
to make expense for the city by
further defending this injunction
suit? Why not drop git, and take
the matter again to the people? In
little over month the city election
will occur, when the electric light
question can be definitely settled one
way or the other with no extra ex-
pense. 1t has been the constant claim
of the advocates of city plant in the
council, that sentiment favoring a
city plant has not diminished. If this
is true, then they are sure to win, and
are assuming no risk whatever by re-
submission. La such a case if the
question should carry, there would
then be no question as to the legality
of the bonds, providing of course,
proper precaution was taken in sub
hitting the question, and the council
then elected would know Just what
the people want.
If the present council is DESTROYS of
acting in the best interests Of the
people, it will at its next meeting
submit the whole matter back to the
people at the April election. The
proposition 30 be SO submitted should
be: "Shall the city ows its own light.
ing plant" Also proposition author
iZing the issuing of at least S15, 900 in
bonds should the voters so consider.
A further proposition should be sub