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


The meeting of business men and
members of the board of trade this
morning, to consider the street light
ing bids that are now before the
council, was attended by about thirty
representative citizens. The senti-
meut was not all one way, as the dis
cussion showed and the meeting was
highly interesting one. K. u.
Hubbard and L. Patterson represent
ed the old company and G. J.
Macbeth the new one. Aid. Fowler
was the only member of the council
present.
President Shoemaker called the
meeting to order and asked the
special committee, which was ap-
pointed Monday to see the old COM
pany, for report.
Chairman FAIR said that the light
ing company promises to offer re-
duction in commercial lighting if it
secures the street lighting contract,
and will do so at the meeting of the
council tonight. This reduction will
more than Offset the apparent differ
ence in the bids of the two companies.
The committee had been appointed
for the purpose of obtaining al reduc-
tion in the prices of commercial
lighting, if possible, and had inter-
viewed the company with the above
r. tho fOl1nwinU
written report:
Your special committee appointed
TO confer with the electric company
leading to a reduction in the price of
commercial lighting would report
that we held conference with the
company and after full canvass OF
the situation we are assured that the
company expect to make such reduc-
tion and that it would be fully brought
out at the council meeting tonight.
As we believe in the good faith of the
company in this matter and that they
contemplate doing what they can
along this line, the committee would
recommend as the sense OF this board
the following: ....-... ....-
RESOLVED, That in view of the pres
emit conditions we believe that the in
teFests of the city will best be served
by awarding to our present lighting
company five years contract for city
lighting, and that we would most re-
spectfully request the city council to
make such contract on the lines OF
the bids received, with the Manka-
10 Gas and Electric Light Co., at the
same time securing such reductions in
the price of commercial lighting as
they should deem fair and equitable
to all parties.
: Respectfully submitted,
T. G.. HEINZE.
w. M. FAIR.
F. M. CURRIER.
M. B. Haynes moved that the re-
port be adopted. ..
&c. Macbeth said that his COM
pany was acting in good faith and
would go ahead and do commercial
lighting if awarded the contract. He
Thought that it was deserving of fair
treatment at the hands of the coun-
Gil and people. -, -. ...-...
T. 6. Heinze said that the old COM
pany could 60 ahead next month un-
der it's contract, while the new COM
pany could not for six months or lon
ger The new company had said
nothing about commercial lighting,
while the people could at once re-
6eiye the benefit Of the reduction
made by the old company. This fact
should have weight.
Mr.. Macbeth said that nothing was
said In the bids about commercial
lighting. Competition would bring
down prices Ordinary Judgment and
good sense would show this.
a. J. Busch said that the new
company .ashould be given fair
show. Bids had been called
tDs on citylighting only, and it was
The lowest bidder and should not be
turned down.
M, B. Haynes said that the city
could not receive bids on. commercial
lighting. That was matter between
the company and it's patrons.
Mr.. Heinze said that there was no
assurance that the new company
would afford competition in COM
mercIal lighting, while we have
assurance that the old company will
make such reduction in prices as it
can afford. ~
f. M. Currier said that he favored
municipal lighting on general prin-
cIples, but did not think it practic-
able in Mankato at this time. There
are enough poles and wires strung
through the city, and there is not
enough patronage to support two
companies. He unders TODD that the
people are paying more for gas than
IN almost any other city. The charge
IS $3.50 Thousand feet, while he
understood the cost was 35 cents,
Thich left quite profit. 1t was as
essential that commercial lighting
be reduced as city lighting One man
should get as low price as another.