Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-08-22
Mayor and City Council In
Perfect Accord Regarding
Municipal Ownership.

Mayor and City Council In
Perfect Accord Regarding
Municipal Ownership.
A canvass made today to ascer-
tain the sentiment OF the city coun-
Gil and Mayor James, relative to
the municipal ownership problem,
reveals the fact that the council is
in perfect accord with Mayor
James regarding the light propo-
sition, a majority of the council
favoring the purchase of the Mis-
souri, Valley Electric Light COM
pany's plant, provided the proper
ty of the same can be purchased
for its present worth.
Mayor James think the
people fully understand how 1
stand on the city's owning its own
plants. | was among the few who
first fought the proposition to
grant franchise for waterworks
aud was called fool for SO doing
by parties who claimed to be my
friends. l am sure the people can
see for themselves what kind of a
fix we would be in if we had voted
a franchise for the waterworks. l
will say that 1 am in favor of the
city owning everything connected
with the city in general. In fact
we can't afford to do anything else
and every time we do we are maxi
ing a mistake"
Robert McGavren, Council
man First Ward-s'I am not in ia
vor of the city of Missouri Valley
establishing plant here, the same
to be operated in dirict competi-
ton to the Missouri Valley Elec-
trio Light company, which at pres
ent holds a legal franchise. In
stead, ] do favor the council taking
some action looking toward the
purchase of the light company's
property. Any other action in
this matter would, to my mind, oc
casion litigation expensive and de-
cidedly disagreeable to all con-
cerned.
j. j. Amen, Councilman First
Ward-"Provided the property of
the Missouri Valley Electric Light
company can be purchased for
what it is worth NoU', not what it
cost when installed, | am in favor
of the city purchasing the plant
and operating it as municipal
property henceforth. "s
B. A. Mckay, Councilman Sec
ond Ward -"To NE the purchase
of the plant of the Missouri Val
ley Electric Light company is but
a simple business proposition. AS
the matter now stands the tax pay
ers of this city are called upon to
pay over $4,000 annually for the
lighting of the streets of this city,
and to say the least the service is
not absolutely satisfactory. Pro-
vided the bonds can be voted [
would favor immediate action be-
ing taken in the matter, first con-
sidering the purchase of the prop
erty of the Missouri Valley Elec-
trio Light company"
w. 9. Fensler, Councilman
Second Ward-"I cannot see
where the tax payers of this city
would be benefited by the purch-
ase of the Electric Light plant.
However | do think it would be
advisable to establish a plant for
the purpose Of lighting the streets
of the city,
M. o'Connor, Councilman
Third Ward Il have always been
in favor of municipal ownership
of electric light, water, etc. 1t
has practically been demonstrated
that wherever you find those re-
sources owned and operated by
the municipality that it has been
q benefit to the citizens and all in
terested both financially and 9TH
erwise."
81. 81. Fisher, Councilman
Third Ward Regarding the
municipal ownership question 1
stand today exactly where I did
several years ago during the fight
over the proposition to vote fran