The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-02-20
Aberdeen, S. D., Feb, 20 1908
CITY LIGHTING.

The two ordinances by which fran
chises have been granted by the city
Of Aberdeen to the Aberdeen Gas
Company having been referendumed,
the question of city lighting is Ger
tuinly growing to be adecidedly warm
issue. There are certainly some very
earnest advocates of municipal light
ing among the leading business men
of the city. 1t also appears from an
examination of the records that an
overwhelming sentiment in this ras.
meet wasmade manifestthree years ago
in this city.
March the II, 1900, Alderman White
submitted a resolution to the city
council by virtue of which the follow
ing question was submitted to the
voters Of the city: "Shall the city of
Aberdeen purchase, erect and operate
. lighting plant of sufficient capacity
to furnish light for the city?"
At the regular city election which
occurred April L., 1900, the question
was voted upon. The whole number
of votes cast was Sl8, of which num-
Der ia were in favor of municipal
lighting.
The submission of the question
three years ago seems to have been
made without any particular object
In veiw other than to test the senti-
ment of the people as to municipal
ownership of a lighting plant.
The question touching municipal
ownership to be submitted at the
coming city election is a different
question. In fact several questions
are involved. The main question is
as to the approval or disapproval of
the action of the city council in
granting the franchises to the Aber-
deem Gas Company. Before the voter
decides this question to his satisfac-
tion, he will raise another question
that must be answered. Is a better
lighting proposition available than
that offered by the Gas Company? 1t
is claimed that a number Of leading
business men of the city who have
posted themselves thoroughly as to
the success of a number of municipal
lighting plants in this and adjoining
states, and as to the cost of duplicat-
ing them, stand ready to unite in an
obligation binding themselves to
furnish the capital to construct an
electric lighting plant of sufficient
capacity to meet all demands, and to
turn the same owe to the Getty on easy
terms in whatever manner it can
legally be done. Then if the yote,
thinks he can rely upon the offer of
these business men and thinks he can.
get better service from the city fol
less money than from a private or.
poration he will be quite likely to
exercise his veto at the polls.
AS to the gas ordinance, it is under
stood that the present ordinance. un-
der Which the gas company is operat-
ing, will not expire'for twoyears vet,
and it is clai red that by Tire time il
is about to expire the city a be in.
Shape to invest in a gas plant.
There is evidence on the surface
that the opposition to the ordinances
is growing in strength and that it will
soon crystalize in an organization
that will conduct a most vigorous
campaign and also have a sharp look
out as to the views Of a1dermanIc
candidates nominated this sprinp
touching this question of municinal
lighting. There seems at the pres-
ent time no way Of avoiding a warm
contest, as the Gas Company can
a plausible appeal to the sense
OF fair play which should actuate the
voter, nor is it lacking in influential
backing.
Things are certain: one is thatl
tl1ere Will be a pretty fight, and theI
otner is that in case the ordinances
are defeated the legal underpinningof
this particular case of referendum and
also tlle whole referendum structure
wlll be subjected to an exceedingly
close scrutiny.
a GREAT DEMOCRAT RALLv,