davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1907-01-14
GONE OUT OF BUSINESS.
Millions Sunk In Unsuccessful Munich
pal Lighting Plants.


pal Lighting Plants.
During the past few years at least
sixty cities and towns in the United
States have sold, leased or abandoned
their lighting plants. In few cases
they still retain their distributing sys-
tenn, buying the current from some
company, but in most instances they
have gone out of the business entirely.
A number of other places have made
unsuccessful efforts to dispose Of their
plants.
AS with few exceptions municipal
lighting plants have been in operation
but a short time, this Is remarkable
showing of failure and one, 1t need
hardly be said, that is sedulou8ly avoid
ed by those who for ends of their own
are urging other cities to make similar
experiments.
AS it usually takes some years for
a city to realize how great burden
it Is carrying in its lighting plant, 1t
Is probable that the humber of admit
ted failures will increase rapidly from
now on, for, as an eminent electrical
engineer recently said, There are al
ready indications that considerable
number of these municipalities which
have engaged in improper undertake
ings are entering upon period or
financial difficulty"
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1907-01-14
llIfU

Municipal ownership" remarks the
Winnipeg Free Press, should not be
discredited because of its tendency to
increase municipal debt, provided the
new enterprises are made to be fuily
self sustaining" Neither is dynamite
dangerous If carefully handled. 1t Is
lust about as safe to intrust the man
agement of a municipalized service to
the average municipal council as II
would be to engage seven-year-oid
boy to handle dynamite.-Montreal Ga
Zette.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1907-01-14
HOW TO SHOW A PROFIT.
Tricky Bookkeeping Puts Losses on
the Profit Side.

the Profit Side.
The printed report of a municipal
electric light plant in Indiana has just
been received. 1t shows a profit. There
is no question about it. 1t shows Il
large profit. The figures are there in
profit equivalent to 80 per cent of the
gross income and IS per cent on the
capital invested. That is what we call
a profitable business.
How was this plant able to make so
good a showing? In way so simple
that any municipal plant could adopt
it with success if its superintendent
were good at figures. And the best of
1t is that it makes competition by pri-
vate plants impossible because-well,
stockholders are too inquisitive.
In the first place the fixed charges
for interest on the capital invested and
for depreciation were entirely ignored.
Then no allowance was made for taxes
lost by having municipal instead Of
private ownership. Next, while full
charge was made against the water de-
partment and the city offices for lights
and supplies, the superintendent con-
veniently forgot to charge the lighting
plant with the water used in its boil
ers and condensers or with its share Of
the salaries i'll the city accounting de-
partment. Insurance was also over
looked Finally, to make assurance OF
profit doubly sure, a number Of items
properly pertaining to maintenance
were charged to new construction"
At the same time the charge for street
and public building lights was quite as
high as in surrounding cities served
by private companies, which had some
how or other to provide for all these
omitted items.
1t is perhaps needless to add that ex-
cept for the judicious way in which the
superintendent prepared his report a
considerable deficit would have appear
ed instead Of the gratifying profits. OF
course the taxpayers will have to pro-
vide the money to make good these pa
per profits, but they may not for some
years see the connection between their
profitable plant and the higher tax
rate, and meanwhile are happy in the
contemplation Of it's profits and will
doubtless testify enthusiastically to the
benefits of municipal ownership.
From the above we may deduce tie
following rule for showing profit:
First, omit all items of expense that
can without too much danger of de-
lection be saddled upon the general
tax list or other departments; second,
charge in as vague a. way as possible
to new construction as many items OF
maintenance as may be necessary to
show a large profit. On. B.-The profit
must be large to provide for the con-
tingency of some carping critic discoy-
ering one or more of the concealed
items Of expense and ruthlessly draw
ing them forth from their hiding
places.)
If the above rule is scrupulously fol-
lowed there seems to be no reason
why every municipal plant should not
show a ofit.-"Concerning Municipal
Ownership"
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1907-01-14
elRL LOCKED IN eY RoesER.
Her Little Brother Watches the Man
Ransack the House.

While the Rev. Edward Stauder-
mann, pastor of St Pauls German
Lutheran church. in South Seventh
avenue, Mount Vernon, was preaching
on The Coming of Christ Sunday
evening, a masked burglar, known 10
the police as the mile a minute man
entered his home next door, seized
his daughter Louisa, wrapped towel
about her head. placed her in a closet,
and looted the house. says the New
York Times.
Nouisas brother Edward. child of
4 who was laying with his sister
when the burglar entered. saw
him take his mothers jewelry and
his fathers wallet. After attaining
these the burglar openned the closet
door, setting the girl free, and fed by
way of the front door. Louisa rushed
into the church and tod her mother
what had happened. All this was
done in less than five minutes.
According to Louisa's story she and
her brother were in their fathers
study when they heard a knock at
the rear door, =
20 there's. mamma and papa" cried
Louisa, as she started toward the
kitchen to open the door Her little
brother followed gleefully, shouting
to his supposed parents.
Wait a second" Louisa said. "un-
til l unbolt the door,"
When this was done the door open
ed, and, to her surprise, well dress
ed man entered. wearing a mask
Catching hold of the girl, he said
'I'll kill you if you tell"
This frightened Louisa Grabbing a
towel from the rack, the burglar tied
it about the girls head, and, repeat
ing his threat, pushed her into the
pantry closet and locked the door. =
While the burglar was rlfling the
bureau drawers little Edward talked
to him. AS the man emptied the
clothing on the floor the child said to
him:
Mamma will be angry when she
gets home
ing for valuables Louisa was shouting
frantically for help but her muttied
sounds could not be heard.
Don't you follow me Wien leave"
said the burglar, for if you do I'll
have to shoot you"
This did not brighten Louisa, for
when he departed through Tie trout
door she followed close behind and
hurried to the church to tell her
story. Although several men who
were standing in the church lobby
started quickly after Tie burglar, they
could not find him. Chief of Police
| Foley says that the man boarded a
Union railway car at Thirteenth
avenue and started for New York.
He is supposed to be, the man who
has looted at least a score OF houses
in Mount Vernon and New Rochelle
in the last two weeks. Five homes
night last week. The Rev. Mr. Web
sters home in New Rochelle was rob-
bed a week ago Sunday night While
he was at church, and money and
jewelry were taken.
From descriptions received by the
police this burglar is exceptionally
well dressed and courteous. The po-
lice call him the mile minute burg
ular" because of the rapidity with
which he robs houses.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1907-01-14
Madison, Jan. II.


Oscar Wilson, president Of the
Wisconsin Clay Workers association
and assistant secretary and treasurer
of the Menomonie Hydraulic-Press
Brick Co. was in Madison yesterday
comforting with the railway commits
sion relative to charges which the as
ISOLATION has brought against the rail
roads of the state. Mr.. Wilson, when
seen at the Park hotel, said For a
long time the railroads have been
discriminating against the brickmak-
ers of Wisconsin in favor OF the man
ufacturers of Chicago. You know
those fellows down there do not count
their brick output by the thousand,
but by the million. They keep their
yards open the year round and they
thus make far more brick than they
can dispose of in Chicago. The result
is that they must find an outlet for
machines going. By means of
lower railway rate, and the economy
of manufacture which attends the
making of large quantities, they have
turned million al,er million of brick
upon the. Wisconsin market. The
result, Of course, has been the curtall-
ing of the output of the home yards
and the loss to the owners of thou
sands Of dollars. You perhaps re-
member now the members discussed
this matter at the annual meeting at
Menomonie last year, and how keenly
many of them felt about it. They
all felt that effective measures should
be taken to secure justice for the
brickmakers of Wisconsin A com
mittee was appointed at that time
and a sufficient sum was set aside
for expenses to clear this matter up
before the annual meeting which will
be held the last of next month in
Madison. l am down here today es-
pecially to confer with the railway
commission.
Il was informed this morning by
the railroads that if we would defer
action now they would submit a pro-
position to our committee within a
week or ten days, and l asked the
commission, therefore to hold the mat
ter in allegiance until further notice
1t will take our committee about a
week to decide whether to accept the
proposition or not, anu that Will
bring us near to the time of the an
nual meeting when a report must be
If II n M
proposition that is agreeable to us,
the railway commission will hear the
proof on both sides at it's February
session, which session will be held be-
fore our convention.
Our annual convention will be held
here during the last of February. We
have not yet set the late, waiting to
find out what attractions Madison
will have to offer our members at that
time. AS the annual meeting is Of
ten pleasure trip for many of the
members, it is our desire to hold our
meeting when there is much goin on
Our meeting last year was the most
enjoyable we have ever held and the
committee here will certainly do their
best to surpass or at least equal the
good time we had then. The associ-
alton is constantly growing and the
work of providing entertainment is
therefore cons .antly growing greater
also.
THE Wisconsin Clay Workers as
ISOLATION is composed of all the pro-
gressive clay workers of the state.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1907-01-14

who belonged to several other de-
nominations before he came to us
and he tells us they have the same
trouble everywhere-impossible to
get q $4,000 preacher for $3.50 d year
osborne, Kan, Farmer.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1907-01-14
who Would Fine the city7

An exchange notes the fact that
city council recently fined water
company $1,000 for supplying impure
and unwholesome water. That is right.
But if the waterworks had been owned
by the city
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1907-01-14
An Unfinished Course.

Does your son graduate this
month";"
ooh, no! He has another year on
the track team. Cleveland Plain
Dealer.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1907-01-14
POTATO RATES
GIVEN BIG CUT
RAILROAD COMMISSION EFFECTS
REDUCTION.
BY TENTATIVE AGREEMENT

Schedules to Be Revised for All Wis
consin Points to Milwaukee-LiVe-
stock Tariffs Also on the Road to
Adjustment - Various Matters
Reach Settlement.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1907-01-14
CLAY WORKERS TO
MEET IN MADISON
ANNUAL CONVENTION LATE IN
FEBRUARY.
ATTACK THE RAILROADS

Claim There's Discrimination in
Rates, Favorine Brick Manufacture
ers of Chicago-Matter in Process
of Adjustment and May Not Have
to Be Heard Before Kate Commits
sion.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1907-01-14
Livestock Rates Discussed.

Livestock Rates Discussed.
The same treatment has been made
by the commission of the matter OF
rates on livestock. The charts were
examined with a view of eliminating
some inconsistencies in the rates.
The main discussion was .son the cost
of the livestock business sp eomparl-
son with the cost of other Business
Comparative tables were examined to
show the rates in other states In
comparison with the rates in Wlscon-
sim These tables were prepared both
by the commission and by the rail-
roads and were freely discussed. The
examination and discussion disclosed
that the data necessary to be had be-
fore it will be possible to reach a de-
cIslon is not before the commission
and more tables and statistics will be
procured. The Northwestern, Mil
waukee and wisconsin Central roads
will each take UP one phase OF the
statistical inquiry submit figures. On
the basis of the combined statistics,
the rates on 1--we stock will be re-
vised.
Minimum weight was also dis
cussed. This matter is now being
investigated by the Western Weigh
ing association, taking account OF the
weight of cars received at the Union
Stock yards at Chicago, to show
whether or not the shippers can load
as much as the present minimum re-
quirements.
MANY Matters Adjusted.
The railroad commission finds itself
particularly successful in getting
agreements and adjustments OF con-
troversies between shippers and COM
mon carriers without going through
long drawn out hearings. The snip
pers are brought together with the
representatives of the companies and
the differences are discussed and adj
iusted. If it were not for this man
ner of procedure resulting in the sat
isfactory disposition of many cases,
the commission would not be able TO
keep up without perhaps doubling its
present force.
The H. f. Bradley case, involving
the shipping charges at Wauwatosa
on the Milwaukee road, was adjusted
yesterday. Wauwatosa was placed III
the terminal limits of Milwaukee, the
same as West Allis and North Ave
nue. station. There is to be, how
ever, a general examination and re-
vison of the terminal situation.
May Settle Brick Case.
The matter of the alleged discrimi-
nation against the manufacturers OF
brick in Wisconsin was the subject
of a conference, at which it was
agreed that the railroads would pre-
pare a proposition for adjustment and
submit it TO the representatives OF
the brick manufacturers. II this
proposition is not satisfactory the
matter will come to the examination
of witnesses at the February term OF
the commission. Oscar Wilson OF
Menomonie, president, and T. @. Ken
nedy, secretary, of the Wisconsin
Clay Workers association, appeared
for the brick men, with their attor-
neys, Haugen & Brady.
The Vaughn Manufacturing Co., OF
jefferson, secured satisfactory ad-
justment of the matter of drayage
charges. a new. rate being filed.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1907-01-14

Same Trouble Everywhere.
We have a brother in our church
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1907-01-14
Madison, Jan. II.

Reductions in the rates for trans
porting potatoes from various points
in Wisconsin to Milwaukee were et-
fected through the railroad rate com
mission yesterday. The reductions
are very substantial, ranging as high
as 40 per cent in some cases, and
most of them being at least 70 per
cent. These reductions were agreed
to as temporary or tentative rates,
pending a general investigation and
revision of the schedules. The rate
commission made an independent IN
yestigation of the subject, and graph
ically charted out the rates in map
form. The charts were discussed by
the railroad representatives and other
present and material reductions were
agreed to- Particularly large are the
reductions from points in the north
ern part of the state to Milwaukee.
Some of the reductions tentatively
agreed upon are as follows, being
from the points named to Milwaukee:
From Merrill and other points north
on the Milwaukee road per 100 pounds
the rates were reduced some 40 per
~ = nor,
The weekly herald. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 1906-19??, 1907-04-11
THAW is SANE.

So says the lunacy commission,
appointed by Justice Fitzgerald, the
Judge who is presiding over tae trial
Of Harry f. Thaw in New York city,
for the murder of Standard White.
The commission carefully examined
the accused man, and too. all the
evidence offered, and came to the
unanimous conclusion that Thaw Is
sane, and fully capable Of Under
standing the nature Of the proceed
ings against him, and advising with
his counsel, and so reported to the
court.
Now the trial goes on. 1t Is pos
sible that an attempt will be made TO
show that Thaw was temporarily In
sane at the time OF the act he com
mltted, and this may mitigate in his
favor in the trial, At any rate the
trial will now proceed, and as tho
evidence is all in on both sides, but
lite remains but the arguments Of
the counsel and the verdict of the
jury.
Looking at the entire case from
this distance, It does not seem to the
Panhandle that Tlaw will ever be
convicted OF murder by jury which
has heard the evidence, and if found
guilty, the act will be justified by
the provocation. IL the editor Of
the Daily Panhandle sat on that jury
he would never vote to convict Thaw
Of murder, for the timely removal Of
his lecherous victim, from this earth,
1t was an act much needed and long
delayed and the community was well
rid of White, judging from the owl
dence of his life in New York.
The weekly herald. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 1906-19??, 1907-04-11
COME TO TEXAS.

Tuesday the first exclusion OF April
left the northern and eastern states,
for the Panhandle country Of Texas,
and today and tonight they will ar
rive In, Amarillo, with their hundreds
of prospectors and home and invest
ment seekers.
When they visit Amarillo, they
visit the largest and best city on the
plains, and in the Panhandle coun-
try They are invited to look 1t over
and invest and become citizens
among us. They will find churches,
the best of schools, good water works,
electric Lights, gas, sewerage, fine
sidewalks, with more being built on
every hand, shade trees growing and
many being set out, and some fine
blue grass lawns surrounding some
of the finest homes to be found in
any city OF the size in the country.
They will find fine stores, repre-
senting most every line of business,
and handling large and well selected
stocks of goods. They will find
many large wholesale houses, whose
travelling representatives visit all the
cities of the Panhandle. selling the
goods kept by these houses in stock
for convenient distribution to the cit
les and towns OF the Panhandle.
They will fad here railroads shops
which employ large forces OF men,
and headquarters for the three roads
centerlng in this city, with the ca
paclty OF the roads taxed to theiI
The weekly herald. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 1906-19??, 1907-04-11

ests OF this city, as we'll as OF the
Panhandle and no doubt the entire
country trayersed by these railroads.
Both sides to this controversy
have stood stubbornly, and II was
given out that each had delivered its
ultlmatum, and the railroad mana
gers threatened to demand arbltra-
ton. The chairman of the interstate
commerce commission and labor com
missioner came from Washington to
the scene OF the conflict, Chicago,
and conferences we're held with both
sides, and concessions made to such
an extent that yesterday the word
went forth that the trouble had been
settled and a strike avoided.
This is good news, for strike in
yolvlng the western railroads at this
time, and stopping in any way traf-
fic, would have been a severe blow
to the entire commerce OF the coun-
try both east and west Many cltI-
zens were daily anxiously enQuir-
ing as to the probable outcome, who
will now rest easy, and business Of
the country will go forward in tine
usual way, uninterrupted by the
threatened strike, and consequent
stagnation to all classes Of business,
The weekly herald. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 1906-19??, 1907-04-11
THE CITY ELECTION.

The election for two aldermen OF
the city Of Amarillo, passed off quiet
ly yesterday and the result seems
to give very general satisfaction.
The Panhandle took no active
hand IN the election, preferring to
place the names OF all the candidates
before the voters, and allow them to
exercise their choice, knowing the
men and influences connected with
each, much better than the editor
Of the Panhandle does. One OF the
defeated candidates said to the edi-
tor on the morning OF the election:
81 read your articles on the city cleo
ton, hast night, and am we'll pleased
with them, You have given us all
fair deal, and / think all the can
dldates are well pleased with your
handling OF the campaign"
The Panhandle is pleased with the
result. It has understood that Mr..
Shaughnessey has made one Of tho
best and most progressive members
OF the old council, and his return will
be Of benefit TO the mayor and the
new member as we'll as the hold-ov-
ers. Mr.. Anderson ts a progressive
citizen whose Interests are all In
Amarillo, and II Is believed he will
make a model alderman. The selec-
ton OF both men seems to give gem
eral satisfaction to citizens generally,
and as some of the candidates had
to be beaten, and all could not be
elected, the defeated gentlemen will
no doubt take their defeat philo-
sophically, and give to the successful
candidates the support they would
have aBked for themselves, had the
election went differently. o.
May the new council prove pro-
gresslve, live and pushing, and up
to the needs OF this fast growing
city, is the hope and belief OF the
Daily Panhandle.
The weekly herald. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 1906-19??, 1907-04-11
ANIARnILo's FIRE DEPARTMENT.

The Daily Panhandle is proud Of
Amarillo'B volunteer fire department.
Aftor witnessing the splendid work
done by the fire department at the
rink fire last, as we'll as at the Camp
bell fire a week or 80 ago, where
both fires had a big start before
the department could arrive on the
scene, the editor OF the Panhandle
wants to give the department credit
for doing some excellent work.
We have been in cities twice and
four times the size OF Amarillo,
where paid departments were main
tained, and Witnessed their work
which in no way compared with the
work OF the Amarillo fire department
at the recent fires mentioned.
When the alarm OF fire was turned
IN for the rink last evenin, that
finder box, was blazing through the
roof, and though the department
reached the scene In remarkably
short time, with line OF hose laid
when the wagon reached the scene,
the fire was raging, and threatening
everything in the nelghborhood, and
The weekly herald. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 1906-19??, 1907-04-11

utmost to handle the traffic in and
out OF this metropolis OF the plains,
They will find fine business
houses, several blocks going up, and
ground being prepared for the erec-
ton Of others They will find prep
arations being made for the starting
OF newly chartered street railway,
and fine telephone service in OPP
GRAFTON, connecting Amarillo with
the various cities OF the plains and
of Texas.
They will find some Of the finest,
most courteous, educated people on
earth, who will give them the glad
hand, II they come among us to in
vest, make their homes, and assist
us to develope the finest portion of
the earth, yet In the crude. They
will find tradesmen and laborers
busy with plenty of work, and even
room for more
All these things they will find in
the Queen City OF the Plains.
They can buy, at the present time,
some OF the finest and most produc-
tive land lying out Of doors, at most
reasonable figures, and at much low
er prices than they can buy the same
land for, within few years
Our visitors are invited to inves-
tigate these things for themselves,
and then locate with us, in the city,
or on the fine farm land, and devel-
ope the virgin soil, and from the re-
turns nature yields for honest, in
telllgent toll, in the country, soon be-
come Independent of the money mad
business world.