Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-03-01
CITY LIGHTING PLANT
Chance 10 Do Something That
 May Not Come Again.

The old saw. what's everybody's business, is nobody's business applies with some force to the attitude of the city regarding the proposition to take hold of the lighting plant beiore some private corporation gobDles u up, waters the stock and puts the whole thing on the market at twice its present price. President Mellen has been quoted as stating that ms company is not particularly anxious to hold onto the lighting plants 1t has acquired and that they can be leased. which means that some body is going to have them before long. A few years ago the people of Waterbury were very anxious to get chance 10 engage in the manufacture of electri- city and n petition to this effect was presented to the general assembly, but at that time the trolley people held the trump card at Hartford, and the city didn't get ghost of show. But great change has taken place in a few years and now with no op- position from the railroad people there is no reason why the city should experience any trouble in get ting an amendment to the charter au- thorizing 1t to engage in this kind of business The management of an electric lighting plant by a munich pality is nothing new. It has been tried ill various places and in every instance proved a great money saver for the people. The town is full of wise men, who claim that the city fathers are somewhat short-sighted in many ways. and especially in mat ters that have for their aim the les sening of the burdens of taxation. but while finding much fault. with or without cause, the fault finders don't seem to offer anything tangible in stead of what the officials are doing and as consequence almost every thing there is dollar in is left for private corporations to pick up. Why wouldn't this be proper subject for the Waterbury Merchants association and the different improvement socie- ties, to say nothing of the mayor and the board of aldermen, the direct representatives of the people. It wouldn't cost anything to appoint q committee to inquire into the matter and it might be the means of putting Waterbury in position to furnish electricity to its citizens at price which they never can hope to get the service from private corporation.
 A representative of this paper talk ed the matter over with very prominent business man to-day, and while he considered it move in the right direction he said he thought it would be difficult to get private citi- zens to get together on for two req sons. First because everybody is too busy with his own affairs and second. ly when we'll meaning men try to push such things their motives are too often misconstr,led and they pre- fer to avoid all this undesirable mo- toriety that attends the bringing about of an innovation that means so much to everybody. Private indi- viduals," he added have their eyes on this plant and the man who would stand up to urge the city to get con trol of it would be raked for and aft in places where he would least expect prod. I don't think 1t matter that the business men would care 10 both. CT with, nor am sure that the town clubs have time to look 1t up. Why didn't the department of public works pass 1t along to the aldermen, when 1t was brought to their attention to. gether with recommendation tha, the committee be appointed to see what there is in 1t? These men are looking after our affairs for the pres ent and if there is anything to be gained in that or any other direction
 1t is their duty to look after it."
 This is one way of looking at it
 but 1t does seem that 1t wouldn'
 meet with general approval. If tn,
 public thinks favorably of the pro
 position 1t would be perfectly prope
 for individuals and organizations t,
 say so and in this way strengthen tn
 hands of the city officials so that the
 might go into this thing with the as
 surance that they had the backinJ
 of the community. The aldermen
 will meet Monday night and 1t woul,
 be no mistake if they would appoip
 a committee to investigate and re port on what conditions the city O
 Waterbury can lease the electri
 lighting plant for 999 years, tn
 length of time mentioned in the leas
 which the present owners hold iron
 the trolley company. The chance
 are the committee would be referre,
 to our distinguished townsman, J.
 Elton, who would be much easier t,
 approach than the trolley magnatei
 from Philadelphia. and who, n,
 doubt, would do all in his power t,
 see the city of his birth and the com
 munity in whose welfare he has al
 ways taken a deep interest get frs
 call on the plant. If the city tries
 and finds that they can't get it, no
 body will blame them over the af Fair. but if they allow the opportuni
 ty to go by without making a try the
 will leave themselves open to
 charge of indifference to say tn | least.