Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1903-11-28

my friend about it, who, by the way, was
city attorney, he told me the Company
monopoly and the city were having
trouble and there had been 10 lights for
a month.
The city of Dayton, Washington,
granted a franchise to private parties a
number Of years ago, to which was add
ed improvements of perhaps less than
$40, 600. These private parties have been
offered $4,000 for their interests which
has been refused 1t should be noted
that the franchise represents~S $50, 900, or
more than half the price offered for the
entire plant. The citizens have taxed
themselves for street lights helping to
build up this large private fortune at the
expense of the individual.
III were a capitalist looking for good
investments for myself and friends, or
had pecuniary interest i'll "robbing
Peter to pay Paul, +" | might think differ
emily about it, but being plain every
day citizen, l would rather throttle an
octopus than embrace it.
] do not undertake to say that the sys-
tenn as managed is a success; neither
would any other enterprise however pros
yerous, been successful, if the direction
of its affairs, had, by chance fallen into
the hands of those not altogether friend
ly to its existance, and for whatever de
gree Of failure that may have attended
its operation, the fault will not be found
with the plant; if it was it would be ut
terly useless to vote to sell, for in that
event a purchaser could not be found at
any price But contrary to reports in
dustriously circulated, the plant though
mismanaged, or l might say unmanaged,
has paid handsomely, as is evidenced By
the following: the estimated value Of
the property above all Indebtedness at
this time is SI2oo. Added to this arethe
street lights, which if bought of privatef
parties would cost SIPS per month, andB
the city would have issued it's warrant in
that case for this amount monthly.
This then shows gross earning of $4,000
for two years; but there has been trans
ferred to the plant from funds to assist iiS
the street Lighting, $40 per month, or d
total of 5000, thus leaving a grand totas
earned by the plant for the city, of$324o4
after paying all expenses of its instalatio@
and operation. I leave the voter t@
judge as to the success or failure Of dig
1t may be born in min@
that this has all been done without liz
vestment or obligation on the part
the city; it being started with the def
lite understanding that the plant alol#
was liable for its Indebtedness, (You all
referred to the ordinance enabling the e@
Enlistment of the plant for informatio4
on this subject.)
As far as it is extended, it has been Is
great convenience. Failure to arranpH
for the necessary extensions and in#
provements Il hope not purposely) bag
been a serious handicap, but it should / N
this is no fault of a municM
pal plant. The present arrangement foH
current is admittedly unsatisfactory, ann
was not entered into with any thought N
permanancy then it should be the dut
of those on whose shoulders the manages
ment falls, to look elsewhere for a mora
adequate supply, instead of conspiring tC.I
get the plant from the people and into}
the hands OF those that will do that verya
thing. am not prepared to say that ne
effort has been made, looking to the i'm B
provement of the plant, but if it has, &