The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-09-30
W|lL|ST0N GETS
ELECTRIC PLANT
Contract Made With Gov
eminent to Supply Cur
rent for Ten Years.

winston, n. D.. sept. SV.-N Hde
will likely prove the greatest achieve
ment for the future progress OF the
city of williston was consummated
on the part Of the proper government
officials at Washington and Mayor Jo-
seph w. Jackson and Engineer A. H.
Storrs on the part Of the city last
week when a form Of contract was
agreed upon for supplying electric
current to the city for ten years. 1t
was learned early in the week that
the contract had been agreed upon
on the part Of the city officials and
the chief engineer of the irrigation
department and approved by the at
torney general. but awaited the APP
on the part of the government. and
the common council of this city. La
ter the cheerful news came over the
wires that the secretary Of the tnte-
rior had sanctioned the contract and
now all that awaits its completion Is
the approval of the common council
of this city. However, the people.
when they learned the news. were
we'll aware that the incident was as
good as closed for the mayor and en-
gineer went to Washington d IN
structions from the members of the
council and they have entered into
the spirit and letter of those instruc-
tions in every particular with the ex-
ception that they have been success
full in securing a much better rate
than had been previously submitted
or even anticipated.
Under the provisions of the con-
tract a rate of 4 1-2 cents to 2 cents
minimum per kilowatt is made. In
consideration of the 2-cent rate the
city agrees to hold the municipal
plant in readiness during the month
Of July in case of an emergency when
the irrigation plant would be. II ever.
taxed to its capacity for irrigation
purposes. A sliding scale Of rates
is provided in proportion to the
amount Of current used by the city
per month. For the first 10000 kill
owatts four and one-half cents per
kilowatt. for the next $4,000 kilowatts
watts two and one-half cents, n for
all over $4,000 kilowatts two cents.
1t will be apparent to the citizens
that the mayor was successful in Sc
curing a rate very advantageous In
every respect to the city and one
which will result in a reduction to the
consumer. The question Of rate has
been one Of the great differences to be
met whenever the question has been
brought up on previous occasions and
has operated each time to hold up
n delay an agreement. In fact, the
lowest rate yer suggested when con-
sidering a contract on previous occa-
sions has been three cents . To the
credit of the mayor it may be said
that he secured every concession ask
Cd and jo cnNno inctanNoc was Nnn.
ceeded tven more than he asked.
Another provision made in the con-
tract which will at all times insure
the city excellent fire protection is
n clause which provides that a call
for additional power during a fire
shall take precedence over all other
demands. After three years either
party may call for a readjustment
Of rates and a maximum demand.
The benefit to accrue to the con-
sumers cannot be properly estimated
at this time. There is no question
that a reduction will be the result. It
is also believed that the new system
will bring additional revenue to the
a better rate.
Another point to be considered in
this connection. is the fact that the
ten year contract with the city will
insure the operation Of the irriga-
ton plant for that period which is a
vital question with the farming COM
munity Of this section.
If the final contamination of the
contract materializes. of which there
Is no question at the present time. the
new system will be in operation by
November colt will requirt until that
time to install the necessary machin-
cry and make other changes. Elec-
trio pumps, switchboards. meter and
other necessary accessories will be in
stalled at the city power house by
the government. Should the govern
ment deem the water supply at the
irrigation plant insufficient at any
time It would doubtless connect with
the city plant and this municipality
would derive another source Of rev.
enue.
Many sources of revenue to be de-
rived from n new system. but which
are not seriously considered at this
will become a great electrical dis
tributing center for adjacent terri
tory and the strongest bidder in the
northwest for outside manufacturing
industries. But what mostly concerns
Williston people at the present time
Is n fact that they will be provided
with the best electrical power system
for all purposes and at a mere nomin-
al expense.
TN view Of the fact that I never
have my way, this life has been
a rather joyful journey."-Rufe Hos
kins.