The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-07-11
A Citizens Views on the, Electric
Light Proposition.
,ditor Tribune


Editor Tribune:
As citizen and taxpayer of Ply
mouth, l have noted with a great
deal of interest the discussions that
are going on in the newspapers of
the city in regard to the proposed
new electric light and power fran
chise, asked by &C. D. Sneoberger,
his Associates, Successors and AS
signs"
Unfortunately for the public inter-
est and the cause of truth, there have
been injected into these discussions
a large amount of personal contro-
versies and reflections, between the
several editors and newspaper men,
that have nothing whatever to do
with the real question under discus
sion.
When men suffer themselves to be-
come strongly partisan in these per-
sonal differences between newspaper
men, there is always great danger
that the real and important questions
may be lost sight of in these jour
nalistic encounters.
Eliminating all such controversies
and chickering's between individuals
let us inquire, what is the situation?
Several weeks ago. a petition was
circulated, signed and presented to
the city council. by large number
of the prominent business men and
taxpayers of Plymouth, protesting
against the granting OF any such
franchise. as the proposed franchise,
to Mr.. Snoeberger or any other per-
sons, at the present time.
While this petition was being cir
culated, it was given out by certain
councilmen, who had learned of the
petition, and particularly by Council
man Mccoy, that the citizens of Ply
mouth need not worry about the
matter, and that the Council had no
notion or intention of acting in the
matter at this time, and that when
ever it concluded to act, the propos-
ed ordinance and contract would be
published for the information of the
public, and that the same would be
submitted to the voters of the city
for their approval or disapproval, by
..,.xw or I,11<xx JxrL Loxt.,- - .,<~4 IL 80
is any law for submitting such ques-
ton by ballot is matter not neces-
sary to discuss at this time
This fair and manly statement of
Councilman Mccoy. made as the
writer believes in good faith, was ac-
cepted by some of the citizens, at
least, as satisfactory. and they drop
ped the question for the time being.
Now it seems that that promise
and assurance, is not TO be kept or
relied on. and it behooves every in
ferested citizen and taxpayer in the
city to examine into the subject, and
make known his position on the
question
The real question, then, is, ought
the proposed franchise to be granted
at this time, and in its present form
In order that we may rightly con-
slider these questions, it is necessary
that we should know the present
condition of the city and its citizens
in regard to electric lights.
On the 21 day of September, 1899.
the city granted franchise to and
entered into congtract with the NJ
w. Simons Light and Power Plant,
by which the City agreed to take, and
said company agreed to furnish, not
less than 36 arc lights, and as many
more as the city desired. each light
to be of 1000 nominal candle power,
for a period of ten years, commenc-
ing February 16, 1900, and ending
February 16, 1910, and for. which thr
city agreed to pay $1,000 year per
lamp.
AS a further consideration for said
franchise, the Simons Light and
Power Plant agreed to- furnish free
TO the city, enough electric lights to
light the Council Chamber, the fire
engine house, the Fireman's hall, the
water works, and the drinking foun-
tain near the Michigan Street Bridge
In that franchise was included the
obligation of the lighting company to
furnish incandescent lights for the
citizens of Plymouth at prices nat
exceeding certain maximum rates fix
ed by said contract.
The Simons Light and Power
Plant, and the franchise granted it,
was afterward sold at receivers sale
and later assigned to c. d. Snoe-
berger, or those whom he represents,
who is now operating the plant as
the successor of said NJ w. Simons
Light and Power Plant
1t wilf~thus be seen that said for
mer franchise, the one under which
Mr.. Snoeberger is now operating,
has over two and half years yet to
run. By comparing the terms OF
the present and the proposed fran
chises, it will readily be seen that the
present contract is more favorable to
both the city and its citizens than is
the proposed franchise
These things have been SO fully
pointed out in detail by The Trib-
une, that / shall not attempt to go
over them at this time.
But in view of the fact that we
have over two and one-half years
yet to go on under the present fran
chise. it is very strange, to say the
least, that any body. except Mr.
Snoeberger, should favor entering
into a contract less favorable than