The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-02-14
MUNICIPAL LIGHTING PLANT.

Ever since the people Of Duluth &C
quired the gas and water plant there
has been general desire on the part
of the majority of it's citizens for the
ownership of an electric lighting plant
The people are today getting gas and
water ut cost. They are entitled to
this favor in electric lighting. II the
city owned it's own electric lighting
plant, the people would soon SECURE
ing company and the city are compe-
titors in the lighting business. When
the city engages in a business it wants
Il monopoly on that business. Many
people arc using gas for lighting pur-
hoses, who prefer electric lights The
former which is supplied by the city
is the cheaper. Ii the city owned an
electric lighting plant it could give
cheaper electric service. There then
would not be the demand for gas for
make 4 cheaper quality for fuel pur-
poses.
SO long as there is competition be-
tween the city and Il private company
in the matter of lighting, the city will
be obliged to furnish the very best
gas. While Il cheaper quality would be
acceptable for fuel, if the city WOULD
furnish electricity as cheaply as it
now supplies gas.
The necessity of the city acquiring
an electric lighting plant is apparent
to every person who has any knowl-
edge of the work of the city with it's
water and light plant.
How can the city enter into the cleo
trio lighting business? This is the
question today. There are those who
believe that under the Enabling Act
by which the city secured authority
to adopt new charter it is denied
the right to issue bonds for the pur-
pose of building or purchasing any
more public utii.aies such as an cleo
trio lighting plant If this be so and
the city attorney is now looking the
matter up-it will be necessary to Sc
cure authority from the legislature
before any move can be made towards
building an electric lighting plant.
The suggestion has been made, that
rs thu city now has the right to ex-
tend it's water and light plant, it could
vote bonds to extend it's present light
ing plant Ivy erecting Il modern electric
lighting plant This suggestion was
answered by Il prominent attorney
who said: THAT it was Il question
whether the city could extend a horse
and call it RAM
The city has recently given away a
conditional electric lighting franchise
to the Highland Canal & Power COM
pany.
According to the terms of this fran
chise if the city builds plant before
this company is ready to furnish cleo
tricity, then the commercial lighting
clause in the franchise becomes inef-
fective. 1t is very easy to give awav
franchise, but 1t is quite a difficult
matter to get it back.
The proper time to prevent the new
commercial lighting franchise from
ever going into effect is now. If the
people really want to own their own
electric lighting plant steps should be
taken Immediately to secure the neces-
sary authority from the legislature.
The Great Northern Power COM
pany has claimed from the very be-
ginning that the commercial lighting
franchise was wanted by them only as
basis for power. If the city assures
the company that it will use it's power
then the municipal ownership of an
electric lighting plant will in no way
discourage the development of the wa
ter power, so long hoped for by all Du
luth people.
& n M NV nUH ~