The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1905-07-27
That's What Mavor Williams Saws
of WaShburn Proposition.
COMMUNICATION ON LIGHTING
A. -n>s Mayor, who Always Stands for
as Rights, Tells what He
-: rs of Proposition of the
E,cctrjc Lighting Co.

Geail0g IN puUllC IFduChlseo, uao hou
no better or truer champion in
northern Wisconsin than Mayor
Burt Williams, of Ashland, and it
is the pleasure Of THE TINES to give
to it's readers this week, an article
from his pen, in which he tells of
how the lighting contract of Ash
land was rushed through in single
night. and in which be further gives
some solid reasons for characterize
ing the proposit;o n of the Washburn
Electric and Power company as
ridiculous. Mr. Williams letter is
as follows:
Ashland. Wis, July %.
FRIEND JONES'
[ am in receipt of your re-
quest for public lighting rates IN
this city and in reading your last
two weeks issues I notice that your
people have the question up regard
ing the extention of a lighting fran
elise. AS is the usual case the COM
pany officials are anxious for i'm
mediate action, but it seems to me
that the councilman who votes IN
favor of franchise without giving
the subject. the most careful and
thorough investigation is unworthy
the Office he holds and does lot pro-
perly represent the interests of his
constituents There is too much
freedom on the part Of councils all
over the country, in order to benefit
personal friends or to serve some big
public service corporation, to cheer
sully tie up the rights and streets
of the public for years in the future;
and with the results we see on every
side certainly Washburn council,
men should move slowly in such an
important matter as this. Thirteen
years ago there was slipped through
an Ashland council in one night
fifteen wear franchise, and ever since
the people generally have regretted
the haste made The franchise was
granted on the representations Of
prominent citizens, who it was sup
foi
but it has since developed that they
falsely represented the proposed
franchise in order to further their
own personal interests. The fran
chise is now about to expire again
and this time the city will act safely
IN the interests OF the people and
we intend driving the sharpest bar
gain possible.
At the rates proposed the pro-
position before your city is ridi-
culous- enclose you list of light
ing rates for arc lights in fifty Wis
consin cities. These rates were
gathered by the American Municipal
Journal and can be regarded as ab-
solutely correct. You can see by
inspecting the same that there is
not city out of fifty that pays as
much as does Washburn, even at the
proposed reduction, and how there
can be c0uncilmen who would favor
granting fifteen year franchise
that fixes rates higher than any
other Wisconsin city is beyond my
comprehension Under the present
franchise Ashland pays SO month
for all night arc lights, which is the
highest of all the principal Wiscon-
sin cities outside Of Washburn.
The cities that are next IN high
prices are Lacrosse, Sturgeon Bay
aud Menomonie, the rate being in
these three towns So 80 a month
The average of other cities on all
night arc lights are as low as $3.50
a month To compel the citizens of
Washburn to pay the rate for fifteen
years to come is proposition that
we would reject mighty quick here
and 1 see no reason why it should be
accepted there. In addition to
rates there are many other provis-
ions that are important it the inter
ests of the public is properly safe
guarded and | would be glad to read
over the proposed franchise and see
10 what respects it would be wise to |
change it, unless the city sees fit to
own and operate plant of its own,
which in my humble judgment /
would be the best policy,
Yours truly. !!
BURT WILLIAMS.