The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-05-15
A plea for Municipal Ownership Of
Public Lighting.

Citizens and Taxpayers-The COM
missioners have put up to us very
serious problem, one that behooves
us all to give serious thought. Should
the citizens of this city vote favor
ably on this extension of franchise to
twenty-five years for lighting our city,
then the commissioners will enter in
to a contract with this company for
period of seven years, at a cost oil
sixty dollars per light, for lights CIV
Ing all night service every night, and
each light is supposed to give double
the light of the lamps now in use.
If. on the other hand, our citizens
and taxpayers deem the price too
high and the time too long, and vote
the franchise down, 1t will amount to
a demand on the commissioners that
they make no contract with any one,
in which the time extends longer than
to when we can get the full benefit of
the cheap power for lighting, from the
Water Power Company.
To my mind, the contract for seven
years is too long, as it will carry us
into five years of water power SER
vice, and that the price asked per
light is entirely too high, considering
present prospects. This new light
the company proposes using, is of the
most improved pattern, and will give
double the light, and, by reason of its
improvements, will consume but about
one-half of the power now required 10
operate the ''fossilized' pattern of arc
light now in use here.
If we will be but satisfied to con-
tent ourselves for two years more with
the lighting service that we have had
to bear with during the past ten
years, we will then be in position to
get the full benefit of the cheap pow
er from this great Water Power COM
pany Then our city can realize her
dreams and own her own lighting
system and save to the taxpayers
thousands of dollars each year, and
by so doing, lessen, in this direction,
the burden of her people.
When the dam is completed and
ready to sell power, the cost OF pro-
ducing light and power will be re-
duced 80 per cent. That will reduce
the cost over this proposed contract
price. to thirty dollars per light, and
my study or the subject leads me to
believe that the Water Power Com.
pany will make further reduction
of about SO 1-3 per cent, in order to
dispose of the power at night which
will reduce the cost to about $50 100
per light.
With this city the owner of her
lighting system, they will have no in
terest to pay on bonded Indebtedness,
nor high salaries for officials, and this
expense eliminated, would further re-
duce the cost of lighting.
1t looks to me that, If contract is
entered into now, for a period of
seven years, it will have to be based
upon the present cost of producing
electric energy, and. it can be readily
seen that little relief, if any, will be
had for the users of power in this
city during the life of this proposed
contract.
and, fellow citizens, would earn
estly request you to study the situa-
ton carefully. Read the ordinance.
Figure out, for our own guidance
whether, under the improved condi-
lions to come after the next two
years. If it will not be to our advant-
age for this municipality to own its
own public lighting system, rather
than to give it to a corporation at a
price far in excess of conditions two
years hence.
Remember the fate of those who
spend their income before it is due,
and also of him who traded his in
heritance for mess of porridge that
he might enjoy the eating or it, but
who was compelled to suffer. in the
end. for it.
There is no intention on my part
to influence your action at the polls,
but rather to express matters as they
are seen by me, and, as the citizens in
general and the taxpayers in particu-
lar, will have this to be added burden
to bear you will serve yourself, by
each and every one of you going to
the polls and voting no on this extern
sion of twenty-five years lighting fran
chise, and being able to get lights at
about twenty dollars. Or. would YOU
rather vote yes and give this COM
pany control Of your public lighting
for twenty-five years. at price of
sixty dollars per light, for seven
years?
Whatever your Judgment may be in
this regard on election day. for your
own interest. do not let anything
that can be avoided keep you from
voting your sentiments.
JOHN w. ROVANE, SR.
Keokuk, Iowa, May II. 1911.
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$500 REWARD. 500.