The Minneapolis journal., 1906-06-28
COMES DOWN FROM
ITS HIGH HORSE
LIGHT COMPANY AT OWAToNNA
MAKES CONCESSIONS.
Good Chance Now that It's Franchise
Will Be Extended and the Pending
Work Pushed to Oompletion- New
Franchise Proposed Is Compromise.
Special to The Journal.


Owatonna, Minn., June 2s.-From present In
dications 1t is apparent that the Owatonna Gas.
Electric s. Heating company does not wish to
become involved in litigation over franchise
and that the standpat attitude of the city
council has had Its influence. The company has
this week made overtures to the council. 1t
makes many concessions, but still holds out for
a number of its former demands, principal
among which Is the schedule Of rates recently
published in The Journal r.
With view Of adjusting the trouble the
company at special meeting of the council
last night offered new franchise, but 1t was
laid over to the next regular meeting, on Tues
day. .---.- .. ..: -... @l -s~.
In the new franchise the company requests a
twenty-five year franchise instead Of a twenty.
year one. The company originally wanted
thirty years and the new franchise is COM
promise. This the company maintains is no
more than fair In view Of the fact that the
present franchise has nineteen years to run and
that the proposed plant will be so great an
improvement on present conditions. .*S
The council has claimed the right Of super
vision Of all laying Of mains and to this the com
pany now agrees. The city demanded that the
plant be in operation by, Dec. l., at which time
i've miles Of mains should be laid, and like
amount laid by the end Of another year. The
new franchise changes this clause to read three
that il at any time after Dec /, 1906, the plant
shall be closed and cease to operate except by
reason Of all accident, the fact shall work as a
forfeiture Of the company's rights to a fran.
chise. D.. s...sa.. ..-s,. e-r....s - Ese5 -
BY the new franchise the company agrees
that the finance committee of the council shall
have the right to examine the meter books Ct
the concern and when a certain average cen
| sumption has been reached for one year the
rates shall be still further reduced.
What action the council win take upon the
franchise submitted cannot be foretold, but the
prospects appear bright for some adjustment
City Hall Bids Too High.
rbo c,+v copnciJ hold !. srecjaI meeting last
night for the purpose Of considering the bids
| for the erection Of new city hall, for which
the taxpayers recently voted $4,000 bonds
were far in excess Of the $4,000 and the sun
| Of $1,000. which the fremen had agreed to do
| nate for this purpose. --.
| The bids were from local contractors, as fol
| lows: Woods Brothers, $22,967; Hammel Bros
| & Anderson, $2S, 64. Both were rejected and
| the building committee instructed to confer with
the bidding contractors to ascertain wherein the
| amount Of money on hand for the building.
The Commercial club has organized move
| ment for the erection OF government bt> .d1ns
! in Owatonna. :-"& H. - =
| licenses were granted for fourteen saloons. The
| fee Is fixed at $780, J. - - r. .'
| Citizens of Rllendale. small village in the
southwestern part Of this county, have organ
| lied stock company for the purpose of pur
chasing and operating a pleasure launch upor
the waters Of Beaver Lake, which IS fast be
| coming popular summer resort.
Morley Booms Gopher Butter.
The picnic Of the Minnesota state dairymen
! which was held at Beaver Lake, was an i'm
| mense success. Speeches were made by Presi
dent L. A. Sweet Of Fairmont and Secretary
John r. Morley of this place. The latter made
an earnest plea for the branding Of all Min
nesota creamery butter that the Minnesote
| dairymen mag secure increased returns from
their product because Of its well-known su
periority. He stated that in butter store
! in Chicago or New York could you buy Min
nesota butter as snch for the dealers insisted
upon using their own brands Tor which they
had built up regulations. 49,. ....y
| Mr.. Morley urged the advisability of tht
Minnesota creameries marketing their own prod
ucts upon a cooperative basis, branding it al
Minnesota butter and then devoting money ant
thought to advertise their goods SO that the!
would derive the premium over other goods tina
| their superiority warranted. - -"