The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-06-12
The Lighting Proposition.

That Mankato is at the present time
burdened with an expensive street light
ing contract no one who has made a
study of the situation will for moment
argue to the contrary. Were the city re-
ceiving in return for the amount OF
money paid out each month service
which could be called first class no one
would feel called upon to complain. As
The Free Press pointed out in its issue
of Saturday evening the service render
ed at this time does not begin to COM
pare with that given by the Mankato Gas
and Electric Light company even at its
worst. and at that the expense to the
taxpayers was not so great as it is under
the present inefficient system. The pres
ent method of lighting the streets might
do for some towns of lesser population,
but Mankato has grown beyond the
limits of a village, and is not to be class
ed as town on the frontier. Electric
ity is none too good for Mankato.
The Free Press has taken the pains to
look up the cost of lighting this city by
electricity during the six months pre-
ceding Dec l last when the present sys-
tenn was inaugurated and it finds that
it was S.. 404, or an average of 1884 per
month Under the existing contract the
no Siy hS |
1902. are as follows: December, S559.74;
January, $64S; February, $59S.43;
March. $675.73; April, S6S7.52; May,
S73472. making a total of S3,9l4.l4. Ac-
cording to the statement made by Mayor
Taylor at the meeting of the council
Friday evening last the lighting bill of
the city will surely aggregate $4,000
for the year if the present rate is kept
up. This certainly is matter of suf-
icient Importance to demand the careful
attention and consideration of the coun-
ell and taxpayers as well and in this con-
nection there is another point to be con-
sidered Do the citizens desire continu-
ance of the present system of lighting
the streets? If the comments made by
people from time to time can be constru-
81 into criterion to Judge by, The
Free Press feels safe in saving that they
do not. AIankatO does not wish to be
put down as city taking back track.
That point having been settled the ques
ton naturally arise in the minds of
many people, which is the wisest and
most proper course to pursue in the
premises?
All are aware of the conditions
which prompted the former council to
discard electricity and enter into a con-
tract with the American Development
company fer the gasoline system. There
was feeling among the people that the
Mankato Gas and Electric Light COM
pany was not treating the city fairly,
and there was, in large measure, ample
grounds for the existence of this feeling.
Under the circumstances no eensure can
be heaped upon the aldermen because of
the change made by them.
But now the time is approaching when
we must look to the future. Time makes
rapid strides, and only a few months
must pass by when the present lighting
contract will have expired, and it is
deemed inadvisable to renew it. In view
OF the legal questions which have arisen
relative to the right or power of the
city to build a municipal plant and the
further fact that the time is short, and
there is no probability that Compel
ing plant will be brought into existence
might it not be well for the council and
the business men and the Mankato Gas j
and Electric Light company to meet on
common ground and try to effect ar
rangements whereby this city shall re-
ceive its lighting at satisfactory figure
to all concerned In these negotiations
the rate for the private consumer could
be taken into consideration and this
could be adjusted so that there need be
no complaint made from this course.
Recently the council, the business men
and the lighting company in Winona got
together with the result that the differ !
ences that have existed between the |
community and the corporation have
been adjudicated. The city is to receive |
its municipal lighting at reasonable |
figure and the private consumer will also |
be greatly benefited.
In order that the citizens of Mankato |
may have a thorough understanding of |
the agreement entered into between the |
city and the Winona company The Free :
Press herewith presents, the proposition !,
as it was finally adopted:
1t provides for entering into con-
tract with the Winona Railway and |
Light company for the term of ten wears |
from June l, 1908. The company is to !,
provide $50 enclosed arc lamps of 1000 !,
candle. power, to be operated on the ;
Philadelphia moonlight schedule, and. all
dark hours. The iron towers must all |
be taken down by the company and the
lamps placed at the street intersections. !
This work is to be completed on or be-
fore October L, 1903 The city is to
pay sos per lamp per year up to 200