Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-10-31

4 HITCH ] ! N |B DEAL
Sewage Committee 81 the Council
Holding Out For Better Figures
on Electric Plant
Generally Exprssssd That tho Coun.
oil Has Blundsred In Its Re.
z cent Action.
Further Investig alton Proper Before
Peoples Money is Spent For
Extravagancoa

Extravaganc0a
The deal for an electric power plant
for the sewage disposal plant is not yet
closed and there is hitch in the pro-
sceedings. The proposition or bids Of
the st. Louis Electric Company was,
according to the ruling of the mayor,
accepted at the stormy session Of Mon
day night, with the string to the ac-
ceptance that alterations in the specifi-
cations might be made. The negotia-
tons relative to the alterations are still
In progress and no one seems to know
when the contract will be made, il at
all.
Several representatives of the rivals
Of the General Electric Company have
been in the city since the meeting and
have been keeping Mr.. Fred Wood.
representing the ST. Louis concern, in
an uneasy frame OF mind until Mr..
Wood himself admits that he does not:
know where ne is at. Mayor Pierce
says that the members of the council.
not satisfied with the bids received and
are attempting to alter the specified
lions 50 thata saving can be made. in-l
|cluding the construction work, which
the city can do itself. Conferences
We're held at the mayors office all day
Tuesday and most of today, but up to a
late hour no definite agreement had,
been reached.
The opinion is expressed in many
quarters that the council. Or that por-
ton OF it voting in favor of electricity.
has made mistake and that an inju-
Isdicious expenditure of the city's money
is being made. The question is the
most difficult, one he council has ems
countered since the disposal plant was
! first considered. and even the practical
| men are not all agreed as TO tbs best
and most economical system
III is certain that an electrical sup
I ply house representative first suggested
TO the council that electric pc wer could
| bc used to advantage and would reduce
the cost of operation. The council
asked the opinions of Engineer Pierson
and Professor Marston and they said
an electric plant 10 operate the pumps
l5that wiil handle the sewage would
without doubt he he most economical
Ito operate because the services of one
Imam might be dispensed with,b bur that
such a plant would cost more. The
Ieouncii figured that in ten years time
1.-THE city could save the difference in
the cost of an electric and a gasoline or
steam plant. According to the BIDS re-
/ ceived, however. this estimated saving
Lean not be made in that time. Mr.
Fisher and others of the council eSper-
| ienced in power service have mains
ttainaa 'front.' first that an electric
iplant would cost as much or more to
Operate and maintain than one oi,erat-
Ted by gasoline. which has become 6
/ popular and economical motive power
] within the past few years. Therefor.
| the proposition resolves Itself largely
Into one of experiment and under the
circumstances the T.-GR. must say that
1 ii agrees with Me:;srs. Fisher, Benson.
1 ls,suszer and Kirby IN their votes 10
lreject he bids received Monday night,
| Mr.. Kreu;zer vas right when he eN-
claimed at the council meeting that he
isaid not2.ssee where in thunder We are
going to land. Z IL the previous esti-
4 mates on other portions OF the sewage
! plant are as far below that of the elec-
4 tric plant. the $4,000 borrowed from
we siueese &
~, !,
az ,i '''s 81
shs, pl..s. MR.. 8, !, !, ! y
!,
/ consider the proposition made by the
/ Marshalltomn Light. Power and Rail-
Way s'oinpal,ss'o VIZ = Z,
to q s,era te tfls :. ila,.s.s ~.
! that tiles city Is efssased ~ y 3iaM SUI
with the ipah on aIlots'ei l.at. ~
and i y could ps sho@.' Nl's,h NJ =,
company says y can pc, tHiat 1iil ~ S"ouia
be the most ecoliorlicai pa ehs pso-
4 pie who pay the pupiacs ',iiis aiia ]" ~
elect the coniiclllnen are eilts.isd Y 9 sl g
ceive tie benefit. Inat Would u hetl oe
4 = IS 80. /.