The Marshall republican., 1909-02-26

In the hall ere helping out the tenn
p%erature Of an August night-the may
or rose again and stated that although
Mr.. Stickney had covered the ground
very thoroughly, an opportunity would
be given to any citizens to question
him. Later a vote would be taken
In order that the council might know
the wishes OF Its constituents.
The city engineer, whose training
and experience were limited to land
surveying and setting the grades for
the streets and sewers, felt that his
position required him to show that
he was not dazed by all the technical
terms which had been used. Address
ing the mayor, he said:
mir. stickney has told us that the
capacity of this plant would be 100
kilowatts. I would like to ask him
whether that is its maximum or Its
minimum capacity" This question
was actually asked under the circutn-
stances described; In fact, the main
points OF the story are a matter of
history in a prairie ethyl
Stickney never cracked a smile as
he replied: THE question Is well put.
A hundred kilowatts Is the normal
capacity. but the plant can carry the
overload for half an hour or so Of
twenty-five additional kilowatts."
While some other questions were be-
Ing asked by prominent citizens, INK
ious to maintain their prestige. Molly
Zimmerman was whispering earnestly
to her brother. Molly was a high school
girl. who had been studying electricity
the winter before. With n few others,
she had gone over to Milldale to sec
how this mysterious current was gen.
Grated. aud Graham. proud Of his up to
date plant. had shown the little party
through 1t. explaining to them the vari-
Gus pieces of machinery with which IL
was filed. Molly's bright eyes had
noticed the hooded dynamo at one side,
and It was in answer to her question
that he explained about the duplication
of parts for use IN case OF q freak
down. "And now we have seen the
whole plan." said Molly as they were
thanking Graham in the Office.
"Oh. no" laughed he. only one part.
The other part Is the one that wanders
all over the town. lights the streets.
carries the current tc the stores and
houses and distributes the surplus pow
err to the factories"
And so. as Stickney talked. he was
speaking to one auditor. at least. be-
fore whom there rose up a picture Of a
really up to date plant, and who was
bright enough to see the discrepancies
between his $4,000 outfit and what
was really needed to light her city.
Perhaps II II had been somebody
elsc's brother instead OF her W who
was seated beside her, she might have
persuaded him to ask the questions
which she was too shy to ask for her
self. But Tom Zimmerman was more
intent upon listening to what the presi-
dent of the p%lcasantville bank whom
Stickuey had prinied on the subject OF
bondsi was saying. than on the half au-
dible whispers of his curly headed Sis
ter.
Right behind them sat Or. Grey. who
had known Molly all her life. The doc
tor did not know anything about cleo
tric light plants. but he knew that Mol
ly had Il wise little head. and when he
ONNli ~ oA' VI hNl "b'AN "Ah'pNASp
he leaned forward and half playfully
asked.
Are you trying to get a spokesman,
Molly
"Oh, Or. Grey. Please ask him why
he has not said anything about trans
mission lines, and poles. aud street
lamps. and meters, and what we would
do If the one dynamo should break
down"
Easy, easy. little girl" said the doc
tor. Remember, | am in the infane
class TOR Molly taught that at Sunday
school. and tell me the story gently,
rs to a little child"
Molly blushpd. but after a few min-
utes of whispering the doctor rose and
asked one 10y one, though hardly in
their logical order, the questions that
Molly had suggested.
> The doctors first question. Does the
| estimate include meters for CONNER
, cial llghtiug?" was parried by the glib
' answer:
"oh, the customers would buy their
: own meters"
Yes. but how much would the me
: tiers cost"
: The wrinkles overpowered the smile
. on Hiram S%tickney's face, as he real
: lied by the doctors quiet way that he
: was no longer dealing with make be.
. lleve questions. but with the real desirv
I for knowledge of u man who was &C
J. customed to look beneath the surface
: of things. Admission after admission
9 was forced from him, until the truth
9 stood revealed that his ''cOmplets
J plant was only a generating plant,
u with no provision for distribution, and
a poorly equipped n at that. He waA
u a game fighter, however, and did moi
II leave town until after the next council
o meeting, when franchise and contract
u were both voted without dissent.
X He had done the town Ii service
), however, for the franchise included Z