Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-08-02
What Voting the Franchise Means.

What Voting the Franchise Means.
There may be a few people in de-
corah who do not Thoroughly under
stand the matter Of voting "a fran
chise to the Decorah Electric Light
Company, which will come before
the citizens at the special election
which has been called for August
10Th.
| It should be understood that the
electric light company is asking
simply for the privilege to do busi-
ness in Decorah. to have their wires
stretched above the streets and to
transmit current to those who want
to purchase it. The company is ask
ing nothing that is not already grant
ed them, except an extension in the
time. The city is giving nothing
away, and is getting much in return.
The laws Of the state require that
before an electric light company can
do business in town it must receive
permission from the citizens to do so.
This permission Decorah has already
granted, and under the present fran
chise the company is authorized to
conduct its business here for twelve
years to come.
On the other hand, the company
|contemplates a large investment and
great Improvements in its system. BY
investing $50, 600. more than the present
value of the entire plant, in damming
the river east of the city, the COM
pany will! save about 80, 600 each year
in the cost of coal, one of the largest
items entering into the cost of rro-
duction. In order to get financiers
to invest so much money in pro.
position, it is necessary that they be
assured that they will have an op-
portunity to do business for a term
Of years, and SO they are asking an
extension of the time of their fran
chise, that is, they will throw up the
pres. mt franchise and ask for a new
one for twenty-five years on the same
terms, giving them twice as long as
they now have to do business. This
does not mean that any other COM
pany is kept from getting similar
franchise. The city could vote fran
chises to dozen different companies
any time it sees fit, but no company
can do business without one.
The proposition is simply this. The
electric light company asks only to
be given a chance to conduct its
business here for period of years,
q request that involves no expense,
no increase in taxes. no effort of any
kind except the simple act of voting
Eyes
In return for this. the company
promises to make one Of the greatest
commercial improvements In the his
tory Of northeastern Iowa. 1t will
construct an immense concrete dam
200 feet long six miles east of the
city. which will make an artificial
lake three or four miles long, in one
Of the most beautiful and pictures
que. spots in the west. From this
they will generate 500 horse power.
half of which will be used to manu-
facture and convey electricity to De-
corah and Waukon. to be furnished
those who desire to buy it. The
other half will be there for any use
that the future may demand of it.
power for factories, for an electric
railroad. or any purpose desired.
The company also promises reduction
in rates to users of electricity, which
the reduced cost Ut operating will
permit. There is absolutely nothing
to be lost or given away, and much
to be gained by. voting this franchise.
The city Of Decorah should it at any
time desire municipal ownership Of its
electric light plant, will be given an
opportunity to purchase the plant at
q fair, impartial appraisement.
There is much that might be said
in favor of this great public enterprise,
and absolutely nothing can be honestly
said against it. We cannot conceive
of q single reason why every citizen
Of Decorah should not be glad Of the
opportunity to vote for it. 1t ought
to be carried unanimously.
If the electric light company were
asking for bonus of several thousand
dollars to make this improvement,
there are many who would think it
worth giving, but they are asking
nothing.
Where is there q city in all Iowa so
favored? We do not think there is
one that would not jump at a chance
to get such an improvement.