Gunnison news-champion and tribune., 1905-03-03
"a" VoRG1 QGBYUs
4 - 2asRa c. 49, q
- 0aainpal HanG
GrSSIsoS. Coke. Fns. -.


Tss NEws-CsAxrsex,
Guanssoa. Colorado.
A. wss stated IN voar pa-er II the
sAth ul. BY Mr. Ma.oa. II appears 10
te tsase fS the people os Gsnaison
~ casesxlly CONSIDER wha, Is best 10
be doue IN the near futsre IN regard
~ hight and water for this city aud
psofae. and that the city eosneil
wishes " know the OPINIONS and de
sires Il the people oi Gunnison in
this matter
1t appears from the statement as
printed that the company winch has
had franchise for that purpose for
nearly % years, now asks tor 10
year extension and an advance Of
about ] l per cent more than hereto-
fore from tue city on account OF some
additional lights on our streets.
Ii might be well to see firsi what
has been accomplished by the city
We find FIRST thai within the past
eight wears they have paid all inter
est yearly and reduced the princip
of the debt from about Sl7 .tttt TO.
$50 900, for we now understand
there is only $500 due ON the Howe
judgment 1t is fact that if pre-
vious councils had financed as well
we would now be entirely clear of
debt. All Of these past years we
have had TO pay eight per cent ON
part of the debt and five ON the re
mainder. 1t has been stated that
money can be had at FIVE and proba
bly, four per cent, and if so it is the
duty of the city TO take up the re-
mainder of the old debt aud issue
new bonds at lower rate of interest.
Even now this would save consider
able to the city and therefore be a
grcss aid in paying the principal vet
due. II this can be done, the people
should this spring authorize by vote
that the council take such course
at once.
1t seems to be- the general opinion
that natural gravity pressure Of
water can be had from the Gunnisln
river, and that when once 80 estab-
lished it would be lasting and Of
very little expense To care fo the
lighting and none to speak OF TO take
care of the water. 1t would certainly
save all coal bills and a greater part
of the laber bills which are row
paid for indirectly by the city and
private consumers. \ good sized
reservoir twenty 10 thirty feet deep
in the top of Smelter hill would give
water and light power for the entire
city for all time to come, with much
to spare for manufacturing purposes
and this entire power could be sold
SO cheap that no one could afford to
use any other 1t is probable that
it will not be necessary TO go up the
Gunnis IN more than five miles to
obtain the necessary fall TO run wa
ter on top OF Smelter hill as the
river drops 80 feet to the mile. The
power plant for lighting need not be
very expensive and could be located
anywhere in the city wherever most
convenient, You could then have
hundreds of arc lights instead of a
few dim tallow dips, and still you
would have power going to waste
that you could not use night or day
Mr. Mason states a plan TO bond
the city for Sl20,O0O, this to include
the remainder of the old debt, $50
600, which would leave somt
$4,000 for the light and water
The city council | understand, this
week presents a still more definite
plan allowing a possible 1O9,0o
for the two plants. do not believe
the plant as proposed need cos
two thirds of Mr.. Mason's estimate
and think the council would be Just
flied in hiring a competant man IL
survey the ground and make out al
estimates under orders. Of their plan.
and let it be known to the people