Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1909-1915, 1911-08-25
Aldermen Winemen and Turner Make
Report on Question
of Rates
kERllN MAKES PROTEST
Matter Laid Over to Regular Meet
Ing to Be Held Sep.
tember a

wy Aolnels met IN special SeS-
sion Monday evening to hear the re-
port OF the special committee consist
ing of Aldermen s. l.. Wineman and
c. ]. B. Turner, on the question of
rates for electric light, water and tele-
phone. Things have been brewing for
some time with the city fathers in re-
gard to more satisfactory rate for
these necessary commodities, with the
result special committee of the two
aldermen named was sent to Minneso-
ia and to points in North Dakota to
ascertain rates, etc. Their report on
Monday evening reads as follows:
10 the Hon, Mayor and City Council of
the City of Devils Lake, N. D.
Gentlemen:
- Your committee, duly appointed to
Investigate as to reasonable rates for
water electric lights and telephone,
respectfully reports that they have
made a, personal trip to the cities of
Grand Forks and Fargo, North Dakota
and Crookston, Moorhead and Detroit,
Minnesota land that they have also in
vestigated the rates governing the
commodities above mentioned in the
various cities in the states of North
Dakota and Minnesota, about seventy
in number, and in their investigation
have considered the costs of running
plant, salaries paid employees and
the cost of fuel laid in the various ci-
ties, and after such careful investiga-
ton and consideration, they report and
recommend that a reasonable rate for
electricity to be furnished to the citi-
zens of Devils Lake for lighting pur-
poses would be maximum of twelve
cents per kilowatt, based on a sliding
scale; and do further report and rec
ommend that for electricity used for
power purposes reasonable rate
would be maximum of eight cents
per kilowatt, with sliding scale.
They further report and recommend
that the present water rate in the city
Of Devils Lake is exhorbitant and that
a maximum rate should be fixed of f1f-
teen cents per thousand gallons with
a sliding scale.
They further report and recommend
that all electricity should be charged
for by actual measurement furnished
on meters without cost for said meters
to the citizens of said city of Devils
Lake, and they further report and rec
that all water furnished to
the said city or citizens of the city Of
Devils Lake should be charged for by
actual measure by a meter free of
charge to the said city of Devils Lake
or it's citizens.
They further report and recommend
that all electricity furnished to the
city should also be charged for by the
kilowatt and should be measured by
meter furnished free of charge to said
city or citizens thereof; and your COM
mittee further report and recommend
that all the electrical fixtures used by
the city of Devils Lake or the citizens
thereof should be furnished at a price
not to exceed ten per cent above act
ual cost
Your committee further report and
recommend that there should be allow
ed on all bills due the Public Service
corporation for water, lights or teIe-
phone, a discount of ten per cent ON (
all bills paid before the 10th day OF /
each month after the same shall be-
come due. - &c. e.,. i. IT,
Your committee further believes that
under, Municipal ownership of the pub
lie utilities of this city that the rates.
recommended in this report could be-
very materially reduced and still leave
a large margin of profit to the city ov-s
er and above operating expenses, il,--s
terest upon investment and other costs
Of maintaining
This opinion is found from investf-
cations made Of plants owned ana op-s
Grated by q large number of cities III 1
ss,onsinuaa % page eigat.,