The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1909-02-04
Former Owner Of Kenosha Electric
R'y Not in a Position To Sup
ply Lights for kenosha
No POWER FOR LIGHTING
Railway Men Are Being Sought as a
Solution of New Bid for the
Contract for Light
ing Streets

A. G. Frost, former owner Of the Ke-
nosha Electric Railway, is being urged
to send bid to the city to furnish
lights for the lighting Of the streets of
the city it being thought possible that
this would prove an end to the search
that is being made by the aldermen
for a new bidder for the lighting con-
tract.
Mr.. Frost has been frantically inter
viewed by the aldermen interested in
the deal, but he has declined to come
to the aid Of the aldermen and it is
pretty certain that he will not be able
to figure out any way in which he can
become bidder for the contract. The
interest Of Frost in the affairs Of the
Kenosha Electric Railway and the Chi
cago and Milwaukee Electric is decid-
eddy limited and even had he desired to
help out ,Kenosha by bidding on the
lighting contract he declares that such
thing would be an impossibility. The
Kenosha Electric Railway company,
which was considered a. likely bidder
for contract some time ago, does not
make any power for itself, but pur-
chases all Of it's power from the Chica-
go and Milwaukee and all the power
made in the power houses of that COM
pany is needed for the operation Of
trains. Frost was approached on the
question some time ago and declared
that it would be utterly out of the
question for the Kenosha Electric Rail
way company to furnish lights for Kc-
nosha and this same view is taken by
the new management of the company.
The state charter Of both Of these
companies gives them the right to sell
light to cities along the rights Of way
and in some cases light is being furn-
ished, but this is only in places where
free lights were part of the agree
ment on which a franchise ordinance
was issued It is known that com
pany headed by former clerk Of the
courts Joseph Toner, now an attorney
in Chicago, is considering the Kenosha
situation. This company owns and
operates a small plant at Harvard, ILL.,,
and it is feared that the company
would shy little at the building Of
a plant large enough to supply lights
to Kenosha All companies who con
slider the situation demand that the
Council insure the company chance
to secure at least a part Of the com
mercial lighting Of the city. Of course
the Council is powerless to give such a
guarantee.
While efforts are being made to have
Frost bid on the line even the despised
John [. Beggs has been approached on
the question, but it is not thought
probable that he will even give the
matter a serious thought. While it is
claimed that Beggs does not own a con-
trolling interest in the Kenosha Gas
and Electric company, he seems to be
entirely willing to allow that company
to control the situation at Kenosha.
In the meantime the estimates Of the
cost Of municipal system are being
secured and it is possible that there
will be some plan to rattle the dry
bones Of this old movement. Tt is very
difficult to see how the city could get
money for municipal lighting plant
without making an issue of bonds and
this woulu have to be submitted to
the people. While the people Of Ke-
nosha have voted In favor Of a NUM-
cipal plant they have not voted in
favor of issuing bonds to secure one.