Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-01-29
To the Patrons Of the Electric { Water Co

To the Patrons Of the Electric { Water Co.
Our electric light system must be
changed. Public ownership in this,
as in every other public institution,
leads to waste and loss on account of
the neglect of both its officers and the
public.
We rent lights to private families.
and where they take large number
of lights, at the very lowest rate, with
the understanding that they will
seldom use all Of their lights at the
same time, and that their lights will
be out between and 10 o'clock.
We fnd, as matter Of fact, that
most families keep lights burning the
whole evening in rooms they are not
using, and many leave one or more
lights burning all night, and few,
through neglect, leave all their lights
burning all night, and even all day, if
Uhe current is on. Some of these casSe
approach the line Of objectionable
neglect or ignorance and must be
stopped.
We make ii higher rate for stores
with the understanding that they
will use all the lights they rent dur
ihg the usual business hours Of the
evening, and according to the custom
and rules for opening and closing.
We find, as Il matter of fact, that
many Of them are burning some lights
all night that they do not pay for at
at all night rates, and in some
instances, all the lights are left on
all night. The latter is usually the
result Of negligence.
We charge the saloons d higher rate
than the merchants, but with the
understanding that they will turn out
their lights at II o'clOck This under
standing is violated by nearly every
one of them, and some Of them leave
all their lights burning all night. We
might name many other ways in which
the electric current is wasted, and the
cost OF maintaining the plant thereby
increased
The plan OF our company is to fur
niSh light and power service to each
OF its patrons at cost, Who pays for
the light service that is taken in
excess Of the contract in those cases?
1T falls back, of course, upon all Of
the users of the electric service, but
it falls with greatest injustice upon
those who waste no light, and live
within their contract.
How can this wrong be righted?
Shall we give up public ownership as
waSteful failure and turn the whole
thing over to private parties who will
run 1t economically for their own
glory aud profit? If~so, for the same
reason we should perhaps turn over
our public school system to private
enterprise. Also our city affairs and
the management perhaps of the state
and nation. King Edward will run it
for us. He can appoint his vlce-rOys
to run the state, and his dukes, lords
and earlS TO run the smaller Sub-divi-
sions. If we are not qualified to run
oIreown affairs, some one should lie
appointed to run them for lis and
rule over us.
No, the remedy is not in private
ownership. Private ownership of
public utilities is relic of monarchy
and will be. and should be cast aside
as fast as the people rise in intelli-
gence and Integrity. We must right
this wrong in the management of our
Lighting system by putting in meters.
We have realized this for some time,
but it will cost considerable to make
this change. We dislike very much
to incur this additional expense, and
have been politely asking our patrons
who are exceeding their contract, to
favor US by stopping the waste, but
we have found many who pay no
attention to our requests. We will
commence to put in meters. 1t may
absorb a large part of our surplus
earnings during the next few months,
bat in the end, it will both lesson the
cost of lights to the consumers, and
increase the net income of the plant.
We send you this notice SO that you
may understand the reason for this
radical change in our plan.
YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS,