The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1911-10-15
THE ELECTRIC LIGHT BOND
TSSJlF

The issue involved in the PROPOSE
ton to vote three hundred and ten
thousand dollars in bonds with
which to secure an electric light
plant to be owned and operated by
the municipality, is so plain that it
would seem a waste of space and
time to urge its adoption, but the is
sue has been confused by the inter
ests who do not wish to be disturbed
in their profit-making.
1t is conceded that from the strict,
selfish viewpoint of business, that
the lighting company, its allies and
its friends are privileged to do all
they can to defeat the municipal
electric light ownership, but this is
sue has been confused, and in in
stances there have been published
so-called statements which are mis-
leadoing and were designed to pre-
JUDGE the taxpayers against voting
for the bond issue.
1t would seem from observation
that the interests who are opposed
to the bond issue have been direct
ing all their influence and all their
power to the defeat of the issue, but
fortunately their purpose is fully
understood and the ends they would
reach may fail in defeat at the cleo
ton on Tuesday next, but if the
bend issue should not carry, the adj
yocates of municipal ownership will
have secured a decided advantage In
the full development of the opposl-
ton and will be ready to retaliate
ct the referendum election on Fri
DAY, October 20, when the proposed
six years contract will be over
whelmed in defeat.
With such asdefeat the Council
will not dare enter into another six
years contract with the lighting
nor probably for a longer
term than one year, and the issue
centered in municipal ownership
will become, more active than ever,
and it viii not be settled until it
shall have been settled as it must
be in favor of municipal ownership.
Having no interest in the lighting
plant and being firm in the belief
that the city should own and ope-
rate its lighting plant, the Caucasian
has been urging the voting OF the
bonds, which, as has been explained,
will be at hand and ready for use
when needed for the municipal elec-
trio light plant.
There is no enterprise CT industry
which can yield greater profit than
electric lighting On an authority
whose reliability can not be ques-,
Toned, it is declared that the profits
Of the Shreveport Gas, Electric
Light and Power Company for the
year 1910 aggregated Si0S,000. If
With all its necessary expenditures
he plant can reap net profit OF
sio8,000 year, why should Shreve-
port not be benefited by operating
ts'own lighting plant?
II is nonsense TO say that Shreve-
sort could not handle its electric
ight plant as successfully and as
,rofitably, when the opponents of
/ municipal electric light plant have
admitted that the.city of Shreveport
h0uld acquire its own waterworks.
1 Shreveport, as conceded, could
operate its waterwerks plant sue
;essfully and profltably. why not
he electric light plant?
The citizen who would have
shreveport in line and abreast Of
progressive communities will vote
or the bond issue.
Let no taxpayer be frightened or
nisled by the cries of taxed to
eath. Nor of water first" nor of
ne many pleas, more or less ridicu-
BUS, which some of the opponents
+ the bond issue are using to de-
raet from and to defeat the bonds
or the electric light plant.
Vote for and the issue will be set
led and settled right.
/