Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1911-08-17
BUYS ST. LOUIS POWER
Consolidated Light & Power ICO..O
Detroit Getting Busy
SUCCEEDS CHIPPEWA POWER CO


The st. Louis independent last
week noted the purchase of the St.
Louis water power as follows:-
Tuesday, Fred Henry closed a
deal with the Consolidated Power
and Light Company, one of the
wealthiest natural corporations in the
country, in which he sold the St.
Louis water power which has run the
ST. Louis Milling Company's mill
and the city water works and cleo
trio light plant, for a sum much in
excess OF the $2,4OO rental which he
asked from the city. The Milling
Company will receive power under
similar conditions to thoss asked
from the city. The power company,
which is headed by J. l. Hudson of
Detroit, will start operations soon.
We understand that some time ago
the company which is building a
mammoth power plant on the Chip
pcwa. secured a franchise in Alma
which expires this month and in order
to save their franchise in Alma which
expires this month they will light AL
ma from the St Louis dam Own
ing land clear TO the city limits they
will not be compelled to negotiate
with the city for right of way for
poles We understand from their re-
preventative that they will be glad
to consider proposition from the
city pertaining to the city lighting.
Mr. Henry was in Detroit closing the
deal yesterday.
In purchasing the power the cor
poration assumed all rights to proper
ty and liability to litigation, so that
now Mr.. Henry has nothing what
ever to do with the water power
In an interview with Mayor Gid
dings he said that he understood that
the company would recognize the
city's contract, and that he thought
the city would come to a satisfactory
agreement with them In any case,
he said, the city will stand up for its
rights.
The vote on the water power pro-
positions resulted in a majority of
twenty-eight in favor of the old con-
tract. the vote being ninety-six to six
ty- eight. The election was called TO
test he public opinion on the two
propositions. whether an attempt
should be made TO renew the old con-
tract at $1,000 year with the atten-
dant extra expense of coal in summer,
or whether the new proposition of $2,-
400 for the entire power with the ex-
ception of seventy-five horse power,
should be accepted. Mr. Henry
verbally made a new proposition
which was very favorably received,
in which he asks So, 400 rental for the
power as long as more than one of
his family were living $1.sOO during
the lifetime of the remaining mem
Der. and then the power would be-
come the property of the city
Hearing of this new proposition,
rlany who were formerly favorable
TO the straight rental of $2,4OO. voted
against it in order to get the new pro-
position before the council How
ever, before the proposition was le-
gally presented all negotiations were
called off and the property was sold
to the power company"
The city of Alma at an election held
in the summer of 1909 granted fran
chise to the Chippewa river and Pow
er Co. OF which the Consolidated
Light and Power Co. is the legal
successor to use the streets, alleys,
etc. as the council might dictate for
the purpose of furnishing power
from dams built in the Chippewa
river The Company was given 3
years or until August II, 1912, in
which to complete the work and de
liver the power as proposed This
gives the Company one year from
today. August II, in which to COM
plete their work
However, should the Consolidated
Light and Power Company now own
ing the st. Louis water power feel
disposed to enter the city there would
unquestionably be little objection TO
their so doing