Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1898-02-18
Proves to be Very Successful
at Fergus Falls, :.
Mimi. :
ABOUT $4,000 Invested
Figures Which All Citizens
Should Study Very Care
fully.

Fergus Falls, Mimi Jan. 81
Municipal ownership OF an electric
! light plant has had a fair trial in
Fergus Falls during the last year,
and the result has been very salts
factory. The past year is the first
year since the installation of the
plant that there has been fair test
OF what it would do. The object has
pot been to make Il big showing of
profits, but to furnish lights to resi-
dents at the lowest prices possible.
The city has also wired the houses
AID furnished the supplies at cost:
practically. The city purchased and
owns one of the best powers on the
Red river, about mile and a half
above the city. This cost $4,000,
which, at 5 per cent interest, means
that the power for the plant costs
$500 year. and repairs to the dam.
Nhe power house, dynamos, lines, in
short the plant complete cost $22,-
300, exclusive Of the water power, Or
total OF $32, 800.
The plant is under the control OF
the city council. The city has forty
three 2,0O0-candle arc lights for
streets, which are paid for out Of the
general fund at the ra tie of So so per
month per light, making a total nf
1,SOO per year, for which amount
Fergus Falls is the best lighted city
in the northwest The present ca.
.pacity of the incandescent dynamo is
"a 200 sixteen candle light: These
IRE furnished for residences at 222Hb
cents per light per month, and at IS
cents per light per month for busi-
ness houses. In case the consumer
prefers to use a meter the rate is 10
cents per 1000 volts, which, in
English, is half a cent per light per
hour. About one fourth of the
lights are used on the meter rates.
There are 1876 consumers and the
!, demand for lights is SO large that a
second dynamo is to be put in at
once. The receipts for incandescent
lights the past year were $5, 200,
which, together with the street
lights, make the receipts $1,000.
The plant has been run by three
men, whose aggregate salaries for
the year is $4,000; the interest on
the money in the plant is $1,000.
and other expenses make less than
: 81, 900, SO that the total expense o.
F9e plant for the year has been but
). 1900. This leaves sufficient
profit to cover depreciation and any
accident which may happen. During
' the past year but one patron has
been cut off for non-payment, and
the amaunt lost was but so cents.
The experience Of Fergus Falls thus
far in municipal ownership of it's
lighting plant has been good and it
is safe to say that electricity is not
furnished to consumers cheaper tina n
=. it is at Fergus Falls.
A Word for the A. o. u. w.
s., All good citizens and men who
seek something they have not, and
that they need for protection to
themselves and to their loved ones,
should come into the Ancient Order
of United Workmen., Let them go
to the undersigned or to any worthy
brother and ask for application
papers, and we will open the door to
the ark of safety. and with the link
of protection will weld them to the
anchor and shield. I wish TO thank
the brothers and sisters for what
D they have done for me and mine,
and especially Brother DR.. Fortier,
who has performed nearly a miracle
on my wife. a. e.. LANPHEAR.
S15 A United States Map
Mounted on rollers, forty by forty !.
/ eight inches, suitable for home or Of