Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1911-11-02
4 AAAAA AAAA e
HOW HOPE GOT OFF
THE KEROSENE CIRCUIT



was a village at the cross road
where farmers brought their pro
duce and receive dry goods and gro
ceries in exchange; there were
wooden porches in front Of the storei
and narrow board walks. There
was not a modern house in town and
coal oil lamps supplied the only
means of illumination.
\ Now all this Is changed. The town
Of Hope has started something which
may work revolution in the life
of the small town.
Hope-that is the way this place
is designated on the map--nevel
could have supported an electric
light plant. Its citizens realized this
But young men began to have 9
voice in the municipal administra-
ton of this little place-boys who
had gone away to school and ex-
perienced the conveniences which
are to be found in larger towns. And
these was not to be denied SO easily.
Harry Koch was one Of these
young men. He was elected a mem
Der of the city council. Why could
MT Hope get electric connections with
the Harrington electric light plant
was the thought that kept constantly
recurring In his mind until finally
to settled the practicability of It,
communication was opened with cleo
trical experts at the Kansas State
Agricultural College at Manhattan.
1T is perfectly feasible" was the
answer that was returned
That was something to work on.
Some old men opposed the movement
from its inception. ut will never
pay" one said. Another was sure
shat it will boost the taxes to an
exorbitant figure" Notwithstanding
the opposition, the move for progress
won. Now Hope, with its nine hum
bred population, has electric lights;
it has had them for three months.
And better than that, SO general
was the demand for the lights that
the Hope Electric Light Company is
now on paying basis. When the
$4,000 in bonds was voted with
which to build the line to Herington
and also a receiving and distributing
station at Hope, 1t was figured that
the business could be made self-sup-
porting in two years.
The city owns the plan and pays
r. A. Whitenack, an electrician, a
salary to run 1t. He wires the homes,
makes repairs and looks after the
street lights. Two lights are on ev-
cry corner. And these, augmented
by smaller bulbs in front of few
of the stores, shine upon the Satur-
day night crowds that fill the streets,
lending an aspect that is not unlike
that Of carnival.
The electric light brought light in
more than one sense. There is a
new spirit of civic pride. No more
board walks may be put down; in
stead of the frame porches in front
of the stores an ordinance provides
that awnings must shield the windows
from the sun and elements. A dozen
modern houses have been built. They
are consistently up to date through
out.
Retired farmers, who compose
most largely the population of the
town, were quick to see the benefits
of the electricity and many families
do their washing, churning and house
cleaning with the power. The city
owns an electrically operated vacuum
cleaner which 1t rents. 1t furnishes
current to the town garage which
finds it useful in recharging electric
coupes, ..- .t.
The experience of Hope is being
watched with interest by outsiders.
Small towns similarly situated in all
parts OF the state have sent delega-
lions to inquire into the result.
To each of the visitors the answer
is always the same: 1--WE were foolish
to be without lights SO long" But
the visitors are shown how the town
makes it pay, notwithstanding the
Transmission of the current nine miles
over the prairles. M
I'VE pay four and one-half cents
kilowatt in Herington for our cur
rent" Mr.. Whitensck, the superin-
tendent, said, land retail 1t to the
citizens here for twelve and a half
cents, with a graduation in price &C
eording to the amount used. This
is cheaper than many Of the larger
plants in cities sell the current. We
also sell the electrical equipment and
appliances to the patrons at a slight
margin above the cost. The idea