The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-02-01
RESPONDS TO CRITICISMS
Mitchell Gas Co. Makes a Statement,
on Electric franchise From
Their Standpoint.

%lldhCllSe 10 Le a business matter,
solely aud not an issue MOI excuse
for personal spite Or public abuse of
or bv any individual.
"False issues" Us stated by Mr..
Hitchcock. First "It is stated that
those opposing this measure desiTs
Che city TO at once t axe upon itself
the task of placing the electric and
gas plants under municipal contlol
ownership aud opertion | deny
the trnthfulness of the statement as
intended to convex my position or
that of the Mitchell Gas Co. Neither
have | talked it or asked any one
else to do So"
MIR. Hitchcock's reasons following
the foregoing quotation arc no doubt
recognized by all, even those who at
heart are in favor of municipal
ownership, and he eliminates the
discussion by saying ''but now NUM-
cipal ownership is not the question
before the public" which is quite
true.
In this connection l beg to call
the aIteltion of the public to the
clause in the franchise -giving the
city the right to buy the electric
plant any time it so desires, which
clause was drawn, | believe, by one
Of the aldermen.
False-issue No. 2, as charged to
us, is stated as follows:
The other false statement widely
circulated as a means of prejudice is
that the objection to the franchise
is fathered by a number of citizens
who seltishly wish to defeat this APP
plication of the Mitchell Gas Co. in
order to gain a franchise for them
selves and gain the profit now sought
10y Mr.. G. c.. King. This is pure
fabrication know of no such pur-
Ihre are those favoring the
ordinance who say there is no profit
IN an electric light or gas plant and
that the terms and rates now pro-
vlded for are as generous as the bust
ness will bear. That to insist on
more favorable conditions for the
city is demanding impossible things
1t is also said that the city must
have an electric lighting plant and
that capital cannot be induced to
enter a field without profit. To meet
these objections there are citizens
who are loyal to the best interests
of the city of financial responsibility,
who are willing to make "a formal
proposition to the city council to
the effect that they are willing to
organize a company of local capital.
without watercd stock. aud furnish
the city and consumers electricity
and gas up such terms as are de-
manded that the city shall now exact
the persons OF company who may
4 franchise. In other words
we say, we are willing to S'maKe
any proposition we urge to
The attention Of the council. We
demand that the city council sell it's
francise for the best terms possible
to responsible and desirable parties.
The Mitchell Gas Co., seeks the
not for honest investment
and permanent BUSINESS, but for
profit upon mere promotion ana
SPECULATION in watered stock.
Instead Of No. 2 being a false issue,
have no doubt of its being only
TOO true. If not true, why has Mr..
been retained as an attor-
hey to represent certain of the op-
interests to try and defeat
the passing Of the franchise? Also
Why have people engaged in the cleo
trio lighting business outside OF
Mitchell been invited to come to
Mitchell and apply for an electric
and gas franchise with promises of
local Mitchell people ready to join in
undertaking? These are not ques-
,ions at random, but are facts II
Mitchell offers a field for two light
.ng plants as a paying investment
Why the opposition to the present
property investment? II not what is
the real object? The field is open to
my one to whom the council secs fit
10 grant d franchise. There are no
restrictions in the way. as our fran
is not and cannot be exclusive
lnder the constitution of the state.
MIR. Hitchcock, it seems to US. turns
somersanlt on bis own statement.
it will be noticed that while he
lays 'stlis is pure fab1ication'' for
ear it will he understood that he
they have no objection and do not
wish to defeat this application of
he Mitchell Gas Co. in order to gain
franchise for themselves The takes
particular pains to state ''there are
itizens who are loyal to the hest in
erests of The CITY (whteyer that
nay mean as it takes money to put
franchise into %operation) of imam
'ial responsibility who are willing to
make d formal proposition to
he city council to the effect that
are willing to organize a COM
)any OF local capital without watered
took and furnish the CITY and conf
.umnrs electricity. ETC.
The gentlemen know that they
lre at full liberty to make appli-
alton for a franchise at any time
Without any proposition TO precede