The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-07-31

dIt tWO SOhipCtihS SOhPshASo eAiS >@Ny -
paying. 81 per light more than Winona is.
When the proposition of the Mankato
business men was laid before Mr.. Tarbell
he remarked that he would be suspicious
of it." Mr.. Tarbell explained that the
Winona contract provides that up to 200
arc lights the city is to pay SOS per light,
but all arcs used beyond that figure are
to be charged for at the rate of $50 per
light The rate for power is materially
reduced
The Free Press called upon City At
torney Finklinberg, but that gentleman
cid not care to be quoted He said that
he was not a party to the negotiations
which led to the adoption of the lighting
contract in that city. Mr.. Finklinberg
is a good deal of socialist in his views
regarding the operation of municipah-
ties. He declared for municipal owner
ship of about all public utilities.
Nowhere did The Free Press find word
of censure for the council because of it's
action in closing the deal with the Wi
mona Railway and Light company. A
number of people were interviewed in re-
gard to the matter Several prominent
gentlemen who did not care to have their
names mentioned stated that the nego-
tiations would result benefcially to Wi
mona. One leading attorney, when ques-
toned as to what he thought of the
proposition made by the committee of
the Mankato Business Mems association,
replied that he would not care to be one
of the investors in a corporation of that
kind. taking into consideration the fact
that there is already an electric lighting
company in Mankato, and that company
will most certainly remain in the field.
He was of the opinion that consumers
would patronize the concern which sold
its product the cheapest, and he very
much doubted if q seven per cent divi-
dent could be realized under those cir
cumstances. Mr.. Bonita, who is at the
head of the syndicate which controls the
Winona Railway and Light company,
made the statement to the Winona
council that his people could not expect
to realize more than six per cent under
the new contract, and the conditions are
all favorable for the lighting company.
The attorney was doubtful if the pro-
posed plant could be made to pay for it.
self in five years under the circumstances
he mentioned, and he should hesitate if
he were Mankato citizen to
recommend to the council the
acceptance of such PROPOSE
ton, as no one can forsee what COM
plications might arise in the future.
When Mr.. Bonita was in Winona at the
time the negotiations for the contract
were closed he is said to have made the
statement that the proposed municipal
plant was to be made up of odds and
ends. and not a clean cut outfit. Mr..
Arnold of Chicago drew the plans for the
plant.
Another gentleman interviewed by the
Mankato committee was I. B. Hill OF
The Winona Republican and Herald. Mr..
bill is another advocate of municipal
ownership of lighting plants. However,
he agreed that the contract was rea-
sonable one. He also said that argu-
ments no doubt may be found against
the plan proposed by the Mankato Busi-
ness Mems association committee.
1t is understood that the municipal:
plant at Rochester cost originally $4O,-
GOO. and about SAC, 900 has been added to
it. Bad management is said to be at the
bottom of all the trouble there, and that
the CITY officials do not know what the
plant really is earning. This is the
statement made by a Winona gentleman.
The I, mona plant was originally owned
by the city and it was a burden, so 1t
was stated by gentlemen in that city.
The plant became obsolete and was not
properly managed.
One gentleman in Winona informed
The Free Press yesterday that the cry
for municipal plant in that city was
raised primarily for the purpose OF COM
polling the lighting company to reduce
its figures; that as matter of fact the
L. rye majority of citizens there do not
believe in municipal ownership. This
gentleman expressed himself as not be-
ing over friendly toward the Winona
Railway and Light company; he had had
cause to- feel Hsore'' toward the concern.
" nile the aldermanic committee was In
Nihona they viewed the brick paving and
expressed themselves as being we'll
pleased with it.
Another thing which had to do with
the settlement of the controversy at WI
roma is the fact that the electric rail-
way is operated by the lighting company
IL is claimed by the management that
last year the expense of carrying pas
senger was 5H cents. Mr.. Bonita, who IS
expected in Winona this week, will be
informed of Mankato's desire for an cleo
trio line and he will be invited to visit
this city with view to looking the situ-
alton over from an electric railway
standpoint,
lhe committee did not stop off at
Mankato on their return last night, but
will investigate lighting matters IN other
towns.
In New Ulm, where it was suggested
that an investigation be made the esti-
mated cost of the plant was S4O,ooo
Up to date it has cost 100000 and more
The plant is owned by the city and II
is found necessary to purchase new ma
terial continuously.
The committee, with c. o. Daley
spent the day at New Ulm.
DEATH ROLL CALL.