Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1903-02-05
EAGLES MERE.

Gilman kehrer. Nothing took place
at the meetingof a nature that need
make the nonresident tax payers
uneasy although there was some gen.
tie talk about raising a special tax to
provide food and lodging for the cats
the residents left on the
mountain last fall to winter over.
One member reported that he had
sixteen cats now to where he had
one last fall," but the mention of
"16 to l" brough on a heated discus
sion. To add to the heat nasty lit
tie street gamin stuck his head in
the door and yelled "Socialismy'this
only added to the heat and the at
mosphere was getting so hot that
the president fearing thaw would
come before he got his fire wood
hauled over the Bucks-wood road
adjourned the meeting before any
action was taken on the matter,
Your Municipal Ownership cores
pondence is closely watched by our
people and there are quite number
of our voters who think the Bor-
ough ought to own the Light Plant
as well as the sewers. Under the
able management Of our fellow citi-
zen Mr.. Benz. G.. Welch, the plant
has certainly been complete sue
cess in every sense of the word, and
is bound to be a much greater sue
cess in financial way as each year
goes on. The financial part as
profit could not be considered, how.
ever, as the borough furnishing wat
er or light to its inhabitants must do
it at cost price. OF course the extra
revenue derived from the summer
business could be used in carrying
the plant throughout the winter
months. There is no doubt hut that
the Light Co. would ask only fair
price for the plant, for number of
the largest stockholders have repeat
edly said that they were not anxious
to make money from the plant so far
as Eagles Mere was concerned. 1t
was established for their own COM
fort and to place beautiful Eagles
Mere on an equal footing with other
resorts, so far as light is concerned,
and it can be truthfully said that
they are furn ishing light that is
not often equaled by the most ex-
pensive plants in the country. The
cost of operating this plant is re-
markably low, when the quality of
light is considered. In the event of
the Light Co. refusing to sell at a
fair price (Which of course is not like
ly) the right of eminent domain
which says elf just compensation be
made to the corporations, the prop
erty can be taken without its con-
sent" might be used. On petition
to the Court of Common Pleas, view
ers will be appointed to assess the
value of the plant and works taken.
The viewers are not to be stockhold-
ers of the company nor residents of
the borough. Ifthe Borough owned
the plant all could get the light both
summer and winter at cost price.
No doubt Mr.. Welch, the present
efficient manager for the company
would be as willing to give his ser
vices and render his accounts to the
Borough as to the Company. The
question of municipal ownership is
deep one and we are all glad that
you are giving it so much space in
your columns.
The Rev. Fisher who has taken
the Rev. Bradfords place, preached
here last Sabbeth day, and in very
uplifting sermon gave great satis-
faction to his large congregation. 1t
is said that Burgess Ingham and
Councilman Kehrer attended service
and Immediately after their return
from church the clouds from heaven
decended and our mountain top re-
mained submerged in fog for many
hours.
A stray photographer with a
"quick as lightning camera" was
here the other day, and one of our
prominent "hoosiers" thought it
would be fine thing to have his
photo taken while riding down the
ice slide. Accordingly he mounted
his "tobog" and started on the down
trip, Mr.. Snapshot clicked his ma.
chine and all was over, When the