Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1901-07-11
NOW READY
FOR BUSINESS
A Site has been Purchased by the City
for the New Power
Plant.

The board Of aldermen held an in.
teresting meeting on the evening OF
July Sd. 1t was interesting because
OF the very important action taken in
locating the new power station.
Three months had elapsed since the
city decided to put In a new and COM
plete system of waterworks. Much
had been done In the way of selling
the bonds, engaging competent en-
gineers and testing for water supply,
but for several weeks the entire pro-
ject has hung in the air by reason Of
no action taken on location. A num-
Der Of very important questions had
necessarily to be taken into considera-
tion In solving this problem and
which were Of vital interest to the
project. Information obtained from
the city engineer showed that the
present location was not desirable.
In the first place it was planned, in
the interest Of economy, to combine
the water and electric light plants so
as to use the same power in their op-
Grafton and management. A new To-
cation for pumping station was not
of so much Importance as to have the
light plant In the right place for eco
nomical management and efficient
service. As 1t stands now the load on
the electric light machinery at the
power station is all on one side. The
phenomenal growth of the city in re-
cent years towards the Agricultural
college has placed the light plant al
most to one side and 1t costs the city
more money to put out light in this
manner than as il the load was prop
srly distributed. Better light is also
obtainable by reason of a better dis
tribution and more evenly balanced
load. To secure site where the best
results might be obtainable ha, been
hard proposition. Desirable lots
have been held at high figure or
could not be bought at any price. On
the other hand the city felt that 1t
could not afford to buy lots anywhere
because they were cheap. The board
realized that they were not building
for the present, but for great many
years to come, when the city will
have reached a population Of fifteen
or twenty thousand. Several ad-
journed meetings were held, the mat
ter was carefully considered in COM
mittee and as a whole board with the
deliberative purpose Of doing the best
thing, and when the matter was
finally decided upon at the meeting
last Wednesday evening the council
was as tickled as an old hen that had
laid an egg or hatched brood of
chickens.
All of the members Of the board
were In their seats with the exception
of Alderman johnson and Mayor
Mathews. Alderman Neill was made
mayor pro tenn, and presided over the
deliberations OF that body. A COM
mittee representing the board Of trus-
tees of the Methodist church appeared
before the council and presented a
proposition TO sell their lots at the
northwest corner of Williams street
and Fifth avenue for a consideration
of 81, 900 in cash, providing the city
would move the present church build
ing from the site IL now occupies on
the corner to an inside lot and make
IL inhabitable and let them retain
possession, II they 30 desired, until
December, 1902 Mr.. Chas. Gullick
then appeared before the board and
offered two lots facing on Williams
street, IOOxl65 feet, for $1,000, reserv-
ing the privilege of moving of the
barn occupying the rear Of one lot.
On motion the proposition Of the
Methodist church people was rejected,
all voting aye on roll CALL
On motion the proposition OF Mr..
Gullick was accepted, all voting aye
on roll call. 1t was then moved and
carried that s1o be paid to Mr.. Gullick
to bind the bargain.
w. III. Hawley, as agent for the lot
adjoining this property on the west,
agreed to sell to the city for $1,000.
On motion his proposition was ac-
cepted, all voting aye on roll call.
This action gives to the city three
lots or l50xl65 feet, at the corner OF
Williams street and Fifth avenue,
diagonally across the street from the
Methodist church property and for
which they wanted 5000. 1t ~ not
quite so desirable In some respects for
the purposes for which the city
wanted them. but the difference in
price cuts quite figure and will 60
long ways towards putting up build
ing for the power plant.
The new site Is good one, however,