The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-04-17
MAYOR DU|S IN ANNUAL MESSAGE PAYS
RESPECTS TO GRAND FORKS GAS CO,
Would Revoke Franchise Unless Light Prices Are Reduced
Paving Matter of Much Importance Wants Hay
and Wood Market Established.

worked practically to it's full capacity,
especially during the hot months of
the year. There could be a great saw
ing made in the cost of sand in the
operation of our filtration plant by
increasing the size of the settling
basin. if this basin was increased in
capacity, it would separate practically
all Of the mud from the water before
the water would flow onto the sand
bed and it would then be unnecessary
to scrape the sand bed so frequently
as is done at the present time. BY
increasing the size of our settling
basin it would increase the capacity
of our filtration plant very largely
and decrease the operating expense
and in all probability our present
plant would be of sufficient capacity
for number Of years. trust that
the water works committee will take
this matter up at an early date and
ascertain what can be done toward
this improvement.
Lighting.
In every city of Importance the SUBJ
ject of lighting is always a paramount
question. In our city we have cor
poration known as the Grand Forks
Gas & Electric company who claim to
have perpetual franchise to fur
nish light to our citizens at a price
that is we'll known to be eXorbitant
Our citizens are paying more for gas
than any other city that have any
knowledge Of and for that reason it
is not surprising that our citizens are
thoroughly dissatisfied on this Ques-
ton. AS chief executive of this city
this question has been considered of
great Importance by ME and it has
been my earnest wish with the aid of
the council to remedy this important
problem. if such thing We're possible.
Last year there appeared one Ed.
H. Healey. who agreed to furnish
electric light and current to this city
from Red Lake Falls. Mimi, at a
price that was reasonable. His propo-
sition was eagerly entertained by the
members of the retiring council
Many days were consumed in framing
contract or franchise with Mr.. Healey
that would in the opinion of the coun-
Gil be acceptable and profitable to the
citizens of Grand Forks and which
would give to our city actual COM
petition in furnishing light. Both the
cutive believed that the light question
had been solved for all time to come
but unfortunately Mr.. Healey was I'M
able to secure the necessary capital
with which to complete his enterprise
and his failure has left us in exactly
the same condition that We occupied
heretofore, and am sorry to advise
that there appears to be no immediate
relief in sight. This question is of
such far reaching Importance that
nothing should be left undone toward
testing the validity of any franchise
claimed by the Grand Forks Gas &
Electric company. During the past
year the retiring council repealed an
ordinance granting to the Kingsland
company a franchise for furnishing
gas to our citizens. since which time
the Grand Forks Gas and Electric
company has notified the city that they
will contest the action of the council
whenever it may be deemed necessary,
as they purport to be the owners of
this franchise by purchase. The pres
ent city attorney has spent much time
in investigating the franchise and
rights claimed by the Grand Forks
Gas and Electric company and
would recommend that additional
council be Immediately appointed to
assist our city attorney and that
authority be given to begin legal &C.
ton on lines that are believed to be
best, looking toward the testing OF
any franchise claimed to be owned by
the Grand Forks Gas and Electric
company unless a satisfactory
schedule of rates may be arrived at
A city Of the importance of Grand
Forks has right to demand better
service and better rate than we now
have and the only way We will ever
secure it is by determining in the
courts what rights as a city we have
against the Grand Forks Gas and
Light company. In this connection
| beg to call your attention again to
the profits shown to our city in the
operating of our city light plant. as
we'll as in our city water works plant,
and there is no reason why the city
of Grand Forks should not operate
and own a commercial lighting plant.
would recommend that If the city
attorney or any special council that