La Junta tribune. (La Junta, Bent County, Colo.) 1881-1939, 1904-12-31

The elections st . special election
,authosissd the. board e trustees t.
iasue &ll 800 worth Of S per cent
bonds. for the erection of m electric
light plant. The city began tie
erection Of the plant and bad the
aame in operation April n. 1903.
'-Ths cd company opsnly boasted
that it would put the city out of
business in . short time. and Issued
. circular saying that they could
furnish light fifty per cent cheaper
than any municipal plant on earth.
After . very hard fight for over one
year tie Old light company sold its
machinery to Q secondhand Jew
junk dealer in Denver. folded its
tent. like the Arabs. and silently
stole away We have improved
our water system until today we
we have enough water for city Of
n, 600 inhabitants. This was done
to meet the demands Of = growing
city. Our water system has cost Us
and is today worth $6O. 900. and we
do not owe one cent on II except
81. 900 Of five per cent bonds Our
electric light system has cost US
So. 500. and all we owe is $ll 800 Of
FIVE per cent bonds. Our sewer
system has cost SIG. 500. on which
the city does not owe one cent.
These improvements on the light
and water systems would never have
been done il same were owned by
private companies. The city did
not issue one single bond to pay for
any improvements. but paid for
them all from the profits Of the
two plants. Silverton is . town Of
over $500 people. and we intend to
show that the municipal ownership
idea is q correct one. We have no
city taxes Of any kind. the entire
expense being paid from the profits
Of the water. electric light systems
and ordinary business. Electric
light rates are fifty per cent lower.
and the water rates are twenty-five
per cent lower than under private
ownership. and when our bonds are
paid of we will be able to still
further reduce our light rates
twenty per cent more and our water
rates forty per cent more and still
have . profit for the city 80 that
taxes will be unnecessary. We pay
the very best wages to all city en-
ployes and have never had trouble
Of any kind. Our bonds are held by
our own people and are held at .
premium. The interest stays at
home and is not sent out to swell the
profits Of some outside corporation.
We do not pay any interest on
watered stock. and wages 60 to our
citizens and not to someone sent in
from the outside. as was the case
under private ownership. We have
expended many Thousands Of dollars
on our light and water systems. but
with all the Improvement and the
reduced rates we have enough
money to defray all the expenses Of
the city. Let me say here that we
also own our wagons. sprinklers,
teams. ETC., and do all the city work
with teams owned BY the town.
The old companies used every means
known to corporations to prevent
the town from owning and operating
its own light and water systems.
Our light and water systems are
in every way and we
intend to keep them 30. What we
have done other and larger cities
can do, and many = city in Colorado
can take lessons in municipal gov
ernment from the little town down.
here in the San Juan mountains.
The success Of our municipal owner
ship plans are in very great meas
ure due to our present mayor. Mr..
Ballou. He is now serving his third
term, and much Of our success is
due to his ability and sterling hon.
esty. He has fought for municipal
ownership for years and is . Arm
believer in the principle that the
people should run their own affairs.