River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1900-12-06
Our Municipal Lighting Plant.

Municipal lighting by electricity,
generated by adjacent water power.
has long been TO the people of this
city "a contamination devoutly to be
wished" For more than a year the
question has been under constant
consideration and the result just real
lied in the perfected exploitation
meets with universal acceptation-
because the wisdom of the attainment
is so plainly and forcibly apparent as
TO commend itself to the judgment
of every public-spirited citizen.
There was considerable opposition
TO the project of municipal lighting
in the earlier stages OF the discussion
and much confusion of ideas, but this
was at time when lighting was con-
templated by the agency of steam.
Many dem urred to the adoption by
the city of a plant operated by steam
because of evident constant expense;
an expense which could be largely OBJ
waited by using water power. But 1T
power could be secured to the city for
a reasonable consideration, or that it
could be secured on any terms. The
prevailing intention was to hold the
question in allegiance for develop
ments affecting the water power. AS
soon as it became known that the wa
ter power could be secured to the adj
vantage of the city there was imme-
diately apparent remarkable unan-
unity Of sentiment for electric lights
owned and controlled by the city and
operated by water power, with the de-
sire of the ultimate inclusion Of the
water works under the same opera
tion.
The JOURNAL. in its issue of Oct. 5,
1899, attempted to express the popu-
lar sentiment on the subject in an ar
ticle that advocated the use of the
water power in connection with the
subject of municipal lighting and of
operating the water works by the
same process. In that article 1t was
asserted that "the economic possibili-
ties of the falls Of River Falls should
be used to make light. These falls
have been in state of 'innocuous
desuetude;' an immense amount of
power that might be used to saw
wood, cut ice, to perform any or all
of the things which these two phrases
are made to imply, has run to waste
An impetus Of enterprise having the
utility of this potential energy now
running to waste in view might be
made to subserYe the city's advantage.
y : If no individual sees the
possibilities of this power to reim-
burse him for the necessary outlay in
applying this disused force to ma
chinery, or if such interested party
has not the means to do this, let
company be formed to secure and OPP
crate the power TO their own profit
and the advan tage Of the city. In
this connection the city would find it
to its advantage to operate lighting
plant and the water works by means
of these falls. The city council should
appoint a committee to investigate
this question, form ulate plan and
submit it to the voters at the spring
election, If found to be of sufficient
advant age and feasibility"
In the consideration of this Ques-
tion of obtaining the water power it
was found that the city was precluded
by law from the issuing of sufficient
am ount of bonds to buy the falls and
create the plant. In this contingency
the directors of the banks came to the
rescue with the means for the city to
attain to its ultimate desires.
The system is completed and gives
assurance Of satisfactory results.
When the council can attain to the
management of the water works I'M
der the same force of operation as
the electric lighting River Falls will
have an ideal municipal system,
system which can be conducted with
a minimum of expense and give
maxim nm of service.