The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-12-18

What Municipalities Say of the Ser
vice of Commonwealth Power
Co.-Franchise Asked
for OwOSsO

vice or Commonwealth ROVER
Co.-Franchise Asked
for Owosso.
There is now before the council a
request for a franchise from the
Commonwealth Power Company.
One way of judging of the merits of
a company is to look into its record
with patrons. If those doing bust
ness with it are satisfied it is safe to
do business with that company.
The Commonwealth people claim
that because of the great volume
of business controlled by them they
can supply light and power cheaper
J than amy other company. Water pow
er Is cheaper than steam power, they
say, and they have seven large dams,
with reserve steam plants for emer-
gencies. The company's agent stated
yesterday that the present output was
something like $4,000 horse power
with present demand for only 1900.
'This shows" he said, "that we could
supply Owosso now If our wires were
in" In order to demonstrate the
point of cheapness the agent is exhib-
iting numerous kilograms from muni-
, cipal and private consumers. They
are ito the point.
lit seems that, not long ago, the city
of Grand Ledge had under considera-
tion the proposition of abounding the
municipal lighting system and enter
ing into contract with the Common
uyha tho
company was to furnish light to pri-
vate customers at regular meter rates
arc lights to the city for street light
ing and current to the city for operat-
ing the pumping system.
A mass meeting was called to con-
slider the project, and the kilograms,
sent to the mayor, were received and
read at this meeting 1t was decided to
submit the matter to the people, anI
at the election which followed the
proposition to abandon the municipal
plant and contract with the Common
wealth company was carried by very
large majority. Such a contract has
since been entered into. A portion of
the kilograms follow, the first being
from Battle Creek.
"The service furnished us by the
Commonwealth Power Co. on approx
mately LOO h. p. continuous "a hour
service has been so satisfactory that
we have decided have them take
another large factory which we are
now building which alone will require
600 or 700 h. p. This system has the
local steam plant backed off the board
POSTUM CEREAL CO., Ltd"
The following is from the mayor
of Allegan:
"Our ten year contract with the
Commonwealth Power Co. for our
street lighting just expired. Have re
newed it for nine years more. Ser
vice and price very satisfactory.
G. STERN, Mayor"
Galesburg comes next:
Village streets lighted for past
eight years by Commonwealth Power
company with arc lamps. Street and
residence lighting has been very salts
factory, both in service and cost. EX-
pect to renew contract for same length
of time.
w. Vt. SMITH, Mayor"
The telegram from Parma reads:
I'VE have long contract with Com
m,onlweialth Power company for street
lighting and incandescent lighting for
houses. Terms very favorable, and
the lighting is o. k.
GEO. B. KING, President.
From the Albion Lumber Co:
I'VE have abolished our steam plant
and use electric power from Com
monwealth Power company. It now
costs us less than one half what
steam power cost. 1t is handler and
more satisfactory than any other
power.
T. ]. HERRICK, President.
Kalamazoo sent this:
Power service from Commonwealth
Power Co. two years, and could not
ask for better.
BURTT MANFG' CO."
The Reed Manufacturing Co., also of
Kalamazoo, said: Commonwealth
Power Co., service satisfactory. Cost
Is considerable less than when in
stalled"
Here lis one from Jackson:
Nothing like it. Cost less; is eff
cient. Would not return to steam un-
der amy circumstances.
NATIONAL STAMPING CO."
The Novelty Manufacturing Co., also