The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-10
Hutchinson People Are Talking
aCIty Plant.
Want to Try Municipal Light
Ownership for a Time.
IT'S LESS EXPENSIVE.
The Council Seems to Think 1t
Would Pay Out.
Present Company Has Several
Suits on Its Hands.

Hutchinson, Kas., Nov. 10.-Many
people are talking about the posi-
bility of the city going into the electric
lighting business on its own hook. A
great many people are in favor OF
tackling city ownership in any old way
rather than pay for lights which they
claim are inferior. Some persons
would like to see city ownership tried
just to see what it would be like, but
the conservative business men do not
want to see any ventures until the way
out is in sight.
The people of the city, without an
exception, would lie glad to have the
city start the lighting business. if it is
4 good financial scheme, and II the
city lights can be made better and in
larger quantities for a lower price.
Better lights and lower prices are
things wanted, and if it is possible to
secure them everyone will be in favor
of city ownership. 1t is financial
proposition.
Members of the city council, espe-
cially Chairman Beebe of the light
committee, are certain that a light
plant can be established here for a
slight cost. compared to it's value as
a money saver. He has some figures
which he will submit to the council
at its next session, which will show
that a light plant, to make the lights
which the city herself would have to
practical proposition for the city to
make the arc lights used in the streets,
and there is always a possibility that
lights for commercial use could be
made in the same way and furnished
to the people at reasonable cost. 1t
is possible that this could be done at
a lower price than the people of
Hutchinson are paving at this time.
and that a better light could be fur
nished- other cities have investigated
this same proposition and have ended
by building a city ownership plant
from the start to the finish. These
plants have not all been a success. but
1t is said that they have been in a ma
jority of instances and that the ones
of more recent construction have
proved to be money makers for the
Whether or not it is just the proper
thing for the city to go into the cleo
trio lighting business is something for
the council to consider. The members
of the council claim that it is a bust
ness proposition when the sort of
service desired from a contract with
private company can not be gotten.
The council claims that the lights that
Hutchinson has in the streets at this
time are inferior and this belief has
stopped the payment of the light bills
for more than a year past. 90 This has
caused the company to bring suit
against the city for the amount. The
city has claimed that the company did
not stand by the contract made sew
eral years ago IN giving the quant1ty
and quality of light the contract calls
for. 1t is understood that the man
agement of the local company has
stated that the company is sure to win
the case. Members of the council
have stated that the city is bound to
win. 1t seems that this will only be
decided when the case has a trial in
the United States court.
The outcome of the trial of the case
Will hardly stop the members of the
council from going ahead with the
plans for the construction of city
plant by early spring.