The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-05-16
THE LIGHT INJUNCTION.

IdE LldnI ANSONSAAON'
The action taken late yesterdy after
noon by Jno. B. Meagher, of st. Paul,
in serving an injunction on the city
restraining it from carrying out the
contract for lighting the streets with
the Mankato and st, Peter Railway
and Lighting Company has caused
feeling of righteous indignation to
possess nearly every citizen in Man.
kato. In fact the feeling against this
precipitste action is SO deeply resented
that a mass meeting has been called
in the opera house for tonight as
means of public expression against the
proceeding entered into on behalf OF
the present lighting company of which
Mr.. Meagher is large stockholder
and the complainant 1t was rumored
ON the streets Monday that Mr..
Meagher had come to Mankato for the
purpose of instituting injunction pro-
ceedings but this was later strenuously
denied by members of the old COM
pany, who ought to know. Yester-
DAYS action, however, verified the
previous rumor and what was given
forth earlier as shot air. has de-
yeloped into CONCEALED truth.
Some seventeen or more years ago
the present gas plant was established
in this city with some of the same
Mankato parties interested that are
now stockholders In October, 1890
the present Mankato Gas and Electric
Light Company was granted fran
chise in the city, for it was about
that time the electric light feature
was added to the gas plant. For all
of these years the present company has
had undisputed monopoly of the light
heat and power Of this city.
During a portion-and a greater por-
tion-of the time what is considered
excessive prices were paid both by the
city and private consumers. But
they have paid the prices with little
protest, and with mighty poor service
a great part of the time The fact is
that the city has never received from
the old company what its contract
calls for. The arc lights contract calls fol
2,OOO candle power and not one electric
expert who has been called to the city
ever reported greater than LOU
candle power furnished. By rights
the city should take steps to recover,
if possible, the difference between
1000 and !, 200 candle power.
1t comes with mighty poor grace fol
Mr.. Meagher or any one else connect
ed with the old company, to vlrtu
ously (R) claim that the city has con
tracted at too high a price for it,
lights. For years Mankato paid Sill
per arc light when the cost of produc
ton was no greater than now. Latel
on it was reduced to 500 and after
serious scrap and threat to put in
municipal plant the price was furthe
reduced to STA. Now the st. Pau
contingent of the Mankato Gas ant
Electric Light Company comes for
ward and says the city is paying to-
much when it contracts for lights a
precisely the same rate that the oil
company is getting and as a "tax pay
err says arc lights can be produce
for about $50 and 80 candle powe
incandescent for SIT while the city
paying $21for the latter. How religiousl
thoughtful and economical some peopl
can become when their monopoly
threatened with curtailmentl 1t
a case where the public be damned.
Corporate monopoly is endangere
and must be preserved even agains
the unanimous sentiment of the com
munity that has paid tribute to it fc
years.
Why is it if arc lights can be produce
for 500, or even 500 and incandescents fl
ST. that something in the.line of col
cession could not have been made bt
fore and at time when the city wa
not vitality interested in securing
street railway? 1t looks as though
on the evidence furnished by Nj
Meagher, that his company had bee
holding the people up for large sui
of money for years in excess of the
Just deserts. In other and plain'
words, Mr.. Meagher admits that til
city is being and has been unjust
bled A good many people ha'