Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1899-03-21

also ID thOse years desjred u vrs,-
tsct its future bonding capabilities
wnerewtth to nfi+r induceluents to
the much desired rstlrOad come
petition. s 55.ss II M
SINCE then MI the special uhliga-
tiUus have erased Il, exist. except
the clty han and sewer bonds. But
the ~ listing conditions t,ght and ten
years ago make II very plain to a.
all now Why municipal ownership
had M advocates then, and private
invest meRt was sOllcited and gladly
welcomed. 5 i. ss45
I'he suit III thar Investment is
here II may bp admit ted that both
the city and investor ar. sorry for II.
II Little Falls could have attained
It. present size, wealth and pOpula-,
ttnn and LETT i clear field for municipal
activity 10 the light aud water busi-
ness. '.inunic pnl Owner-hip'' would
sland Ia d different attitude than 1t
now dt,es Certain agreements were
made bv the city, BY which they
were to pay tine private enterprise
for certain services. twas by virtue
~ the city's pledge to pay certain
sums monthly for light and water
services that the necessary inves,-
inents were made to perform those
services. Oncede tnat the city will
rfpudia e those agreements II 1t can,
the other party tOtthe agreement Ia
c"nyinced that the courts will hold
those contracts kgai and binding.
and give tn. owner Oi the contracts
judgment against the city for their
full valne and for any damages by the
city = attrmpted 5r'pudiatt',n such
n statement Ia not q ''blutf,' no sane
man. would attempt to bluff city
but 1t Ia simply q plain statement III
the position II the two parties to
this business condition. The moral
attitude Of the city Ia not under dis
cu~si.'n. because NO investor can de-
pend ON such cOnnidera tiOns to
the value oi q public agree
ment. lie must a. all times be pre-.
pared to protect his interests with
out appeal tO the city's good faith
or public sympathy. ~ ia
But regardless Of those contracts,
the private plant ia here 1t cannot
he ira D4ferred to some other lHeality.
1t IL we'll equipped for supplying
pa trOnn. aud must continue in that
line If business, regardless Of how
much it's value q decreased. al
to now construct q city
plant, pending the final decision Of
the validity Of the: long time con,
tracts. and Its operation In com.
petition with an excellent private
plant. for the business Of a com.
munity that would not be large for
one plant. is one, that cannot COM
mend itself to reasonable business
tinn. gs
The voting 81 certain bonds last
fall to buy the present plant Or e.
tablish another was done under
peculiar circumstances. Many be-
lieved that the city would be able to.
acquire the present plant. cancel the
have clear tield. with q
fair prospect oi a satisfactory out.
come to the city generally. No deal
has been made for the plant. and
ownership AZ now aug-
Gested is Tar different from what was
generally hoped for.
The cam paign ostensihly for lower
taxes and decreased city expend
lures. really means an enormous In
crease In the city 0bliga lions and
payments. Many voters who are
willing to ''take their chances" have
every hope III winning personally by
large city expenditures. The opera
tiun Of q plant will give considerable
and those who have the
OF 1t can easily pay their
share Of increased taxes. Large
Of lixbt and water can, II
they are on the city council, see that
rates and rules give them saving
that will offset their proportion Of
city expense in the matter.
Others know that members Of the
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