Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-01
GRAND ISLAND LIGHT FIGHT
Council Orders Special Election on Cues
tisn of Constructing PlsHt
MAYORS VOTE NECESSARY TO PASS ORDER
Strong Opposition to Action, Although
voters Approved Proposition at
Last Election by strong
Majority.

GRAND ISLAND, Dec. 3i-CspeoiaL)-A
votes. decided in each instance by the
mayor, were the result of a meeting of the
city council Saturday upon the pending
municipal ownership question. Nearly
year ago the voters of the city. by vote
of S64 to 369, at the city election, requested
the council to call special election for
the purpose OF voting on the proposition of
Issuing $4,000 in bonds for the Installation
of an electric lighting plant in connection
with the waterworks. The council has in
the meantime Investigated the lighting
plants in connection with the waterHorks
systems of Hastings, Fremont and Lincoln,
and have found all OF these to be success
full plants. At Hastings a start was made
with $4,000 less than is proposed to begin
with here, and at Fremont with $1,000 less
Furthermore, the testimony OF two expert
engineers has been secured to the effect
that, with few improvements to the pres
ent weterworks plant which can he pro-
vided for without a bond issue, such a
plant can be installed for the amount
stated. Yet several Of the councilmon were
disposed today to disregard the declaration
OF the voters and of the petition of the citi-
Gems. on tile and increase the amount of
pAOpOSSu DOHuS 10 SOUVOV, a plOpOSltlon tnat
WAS first proposed by parties interested in
private lighting plants here, and is, there
fore, believed to be projected with the hope
that such a proposition will much more
easily be defeated When Electrical En-
gineer Palmer presented his plans, showing
that the plant could be installed for s34, sOO,
with one-half the boiler charge placed
against the waterworks fund. and there
fore not included in the estimate; as also
a proper proportion of the new waterworks
building, four members OF the council OBJ
jected to such a charge against the water
works fund.
1t was admitted, strangely enough, that
the waterworks were in such need Of these
repairs and new provisions that at least
$1,000 would have to be spent upon them
next year, even If the voters defeated the
light proposition. The four members of the
council at first declined even to accept the
plans and specifications. though subject to
alteration. A tie vote resulted and Mayor
Schulz decided to accept. Later the same
gentleman objected to cutting out some
items deemed by all desirable, but which
could have been added later and again a
tie vote resulted, Mayor Schulz deciding to
adopt the plans unchanged.
Since the first election the present Grand
lsland Electric company has reorganized
out of the old City Electric company, which
has been in litigation for ten years. and in
conjunction with the Grand Island Gas
company is putting UP a strong fight
against the proposed municipal plan. The
present Grand IaIand Electric company is
capitalized at $4,000. and has a mortgage
on the present plant for $4,000 They prom
Use to increase the investment to 10000 if
the city will not vote the bonds. 1t is ex-
pected that when the election shall have
been called these two companies will begin
an active campaign.