The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-08-13

out. We want no more failures IN
Mankato.
Mr.. Macbeth said that Mr..
Currier was inconsistent. II the city
put in plant it would have to string
new wires and put up new poles.
Mr.. Currier said that the old COM
panywould doubtless. be glad to sell its
poles and wires to the city in such an
event. ..5- OIL.
Mr.. Macbeth said that the same
would be as true between private
companies.
Mr.. FAIR said that there would not
be enough business for many years to
support two companies. The old
company was here.
Mr.. Macbeth said that the city
should not have advertised for bids,
if it did not intend to award the con-
tract to the lowest bidder, but should
put Chinese wall around the city,
and tell outside capital that it is not
wanted.
Gen. Pope said that he had favored
municipal lighting. The main thing
is to get cheaper commercial lighting.
With a reduced price there would be
increased use. We have been paying
$3.50 Thousand for gas for a dozen
years for villianous, sinking
smoky article. Nobody, not even the
gas manufacturers, will claim this to
be a reasonable charge. He had
failed to see where the local company
had followed down the current. The
company claimed that it had done
lighting as low as it could, but the
city had come to pass where it had
thought best to advertise for bids.
He had just come from a meeting
where he had bid the lowest on some
work and had argued long that he
was therefore entitled to the con-
tract. If the new company has put
in an honest bid, and is competent
company, why should it not have the
contract? There can be no contract
entered into by the city that will
guarantee that the old company will
reduce it's rates on commerce al
lighting. Competition will ensure
a reduction Of prices more than
anything else. With decreased rates,
there would be greater consumption
and room for two companies. The
council is in all honor bound, unless
there is some reason not on the surface,
to give the lowest bidder the contract,
and the public should be grateful to
the council for furnishing reason
able competition in commercial light
ing.
L. Patterson said that no one in the
room ever paid $3.50 thousand for
gas. This is the list price, but there
is discount, so that the price &C.
tually paid is only S1.75, So and $3.50,
according to the amount and what it
is used for.
R. D. Hubbard said that he had
travelled extensively and that the gas
furnished here is as good or better
than anywhere else. A man who says
otherwise speaks from prejudiced
mind or else he does not know. We
have tried to give an honest, straight
forward service. Two years ago we
offered the city arc lights at $75. All
this time the city could have saved
the difference between S75 and S96
light year, but the council did not
see fit to do it. We have swanted to
reduce the price of gas, but have been
told to keep still and cold that the
Proper time would come later. We
have been constantly forestalled. If
we get this contract, we will give as
good gas as there is in the state.
Gen. Pope said that awhile ago a
lower town hotel had put in an electric
plant of its own, as it could not get
satisfactory rates from the old COM
pany. Shortly after it had found it
practicable to let it's own plant lie
idle and take the company's light.
He had heard that the price it now
pays is only half what was paid be-
fore. This is result of competition.
Mr.. Hubbard said that his last
months house gas bill was 1896 for
fuel, cooking and illumination. 1t
had never cost more than this.
Gen. Pope said that SIS a month
seems to be too much this hot wea-
ther.
Mr.. Hubbard said that it was cheap
er than any other fuel.
Gen. Pope and J. 81. Stewart COM
planned that sometimes the gas is
very bad. 81.
Avote was taken on the motion, and
it seemed to be about tie, and calls
were made for rising vote or secret
ballot.
1t was suggested that the matter
be left to the council.
Alderman Fowler said that the
council would like to be governed by
the feeling of our citizens on this mat
ter, and did not want to take the en-