The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1906-06-22
THE DAM PROPOSITION

Next Monday the citizens of our viii
lage will vote upon a proposition that
has within itself greater possibilities
than any project affecting the future
welfare OF the village since the location
of the court house; differing from this
not 40 much in the matter of taxation as
the local interests We publish below
the estimate of cost provided by Mr..
Bryan, who is now general manager for
Mr.. Chaplin of Niles, supervising three
cost 81 100000, to be erected under his
direction. Mr.. Bryan, IN addition to be-
ing competent for the work, is certainly
disnterested party, aud his estimates
are, he explained to the council, placed
high enough to cover every possible con-
tingency that may arise. For example:
He placed the cost of moving the dirt at
20 cents cubic yard, when the Kalama.
zoo, Lake Shore & Chicago Z. r. only
paid II cents a cubic yard; again his
figures on the concrete work as costing
S6 90 per cubic yard, when there is but
little question but that it can be done
for 800 per yard. The saving upon
these two items alone is $1,000, which
can be added to the contingent fund OF
$500 already provided, making s4,700.
With this estimate of cost before him
no qualified voter need act upon the sub
iect in an unintelligent manner, and up
on this proposition every voter registered
is qualified to vote
Will the plant be adequate to the
needs OF the village can best be answered
by quoting Mr.. Bryan; "The great area
covered by the pond gives 80 great
bondage that if no water ran into it the
top foot of water would furnish horse
power hour a day for 80 days which
would tide over any dry time and then
draw pond but one foot; the ordinary
run for electric purposes would not low
er the pond but few inches The
amount of water flowing into the pond
includes that flowing into the present
electric pond, also that of the big mill
pond Free & Morrisou's pond and Ack-
ley brook; this latter stream is OF an
even flow the year round This addi-
tioual volume of water, added to the
greater fall would develop sufficient
power 80 that every demand for power
will be met for years to come"
We are compelled to do something, for
the machinery of the old plant is mad
equate to perform the work that will be
necessary for it to perform. Something
must be done, and that in the near flu
ture A steam power plant furnishing
l75 horse power, an amount far less
than the proposed plant would furnish,
according to competent authority, will
cost Sl7,5O0 for the engine and boilers
alone and the same authority places the
cost of fuel at between two and three
thousand dollars per year. Add to this
the $500 now paid out for gasolene and
} 800 for coal at the water works and you
have a sum sufficient to pay the interest
on the bonds proposed to be issued, and
much less power will be available. The
council will, il given the opportunity
date the bonds so that they will not be-
come payable until present indebted
ness due on electric light bonds are paid
1t is we'll known that the electric light
plant is not only self sustaining but the
street lights are maintained free of ex-
pense to the general tax payer.
1t comes down to the one question.
II you vote no on the proposition, it be-
ing conceded by all that something
must be done to improve the plant, what
will we doY They must either build a
steam plant at great expense aud oper-
ate it with coal at a high price and be
subject to interference by strikes either
of miners or railroad employees or give
up the business OF lighting, the only in
terest the village has that pays a profit.