Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-03-19
For Municipal Ownership
IN The Public of Americus !:

tn The Pubic OF AnleTlcuS.
The appeal to you to vote in favor
of an issue of bonds to the extent of
$4,000 the proceeds to be used for a
mnnicipally owned and operated eIec-
tric lighting plant, is not an appeal
10 nassion nor is it an appeal to pre-
ipdice or personal animosity toward
anv individuals or corporation. 1t is
simply an appeal to your good judg-
mcat an appeal to your business sa-
gaclty, an appeal to your love for
Ampricus and the hope that lies with
in ms all that the city will develop
and become a greater city, in which
", NAV all prosper. 1t is, above all,
not based on the desire to confiscate
anv mans property or to injure legit-
innate Investments that have been
made here. This we shall prove to
your complete satisfaction, we be.
lieve in the comments herein made
on this question.
To begin, we must all recognize that
n a city the size of Americus a light
ing piant, like any other public utility,
is bv its very nature, monopoly. We
can have no possible hope of COM
potiag private plant. Private invest
ment will not come in for that pur-
pose Neither is there any hope OF
competition from outside plants. AL
bany will not compete with Americus,
neither will Columbus or Macon. Each
is in a s~here of its own, occupying
its own field in a monopolistic way.
The local conditions that have existed
for twenty years, or longer, must,
therefore, be expected to continue,
with only such redress as may be OBJ
tanned through the uncertain appeals
and costly struggles before the rail-
road commission.
The trend of thought throughout
this and other countries today is
against a continuance of these monop-
Oies that directly affect every citizen.
Abroad and at home public sentiment
is demanding that municipalities own
and control public utilities of every
kind, and Operate them directly for
the benefit of the public. In England
and Scotland this movement has gone
farther and faster than with us. There
street car lines, telephones, telegraph
lines. gas works, water works and
electric lighting plants have all been
municipalized, or control assumed hv
the general government In this
country cities have largely, for years
past, been taking over their water
works and gas works. In many in
stances the movement has been made,
and successfully, to operate the cleo
Irlc plants in the name of, and for the
ceneht of, the citizens as a whole
Ihis is the movement that is now on
In Americus. that has been in prog
reSS here for several years, and on
which YOU will pass at the polls on
Wednesday,
AS the advocates of bond issue and
municipality owned plant we believe,
and insist, that a private plant, such
aS We have, is a detriment to the de-
wall
NpIopment of the city along industrial
'ILeS, as we'll as a direct and unnec-
eSSdFy tax upon every citizen consum-
ing electricity for lighting or power
PURPOSES. AS regards the latter, we
oeIleVe that if the city owns and oper-
0leS plant it will be in position to
make very low rates for power, such
rates as will offer strong induce
"'p"t TO manufacturers to avail them
serves of it and to locate plants here
'"at will give employment to present,
Ut new, citizens, increasing the popu-
'auon, wealth and Importance of
a'iIeflcus. What is for the good of
rhtre city there can be no oppo-
"i'Ioh to, and municipality owned
P''n' VIII be endorsed in offering the
strongest inducements of this kind.
SoSI as we are now giving, and have
0eeh giving for many years, all the
wafer the S. A. L. railroad requires, in
iecoghltlon of the value of it's shops
" Aherlcus, so we can, under munich
pal ownership of lighting plant, Offer
N'e'1rlc lights and power, either free
VI al minimum of cost, to secure
nv" plants or hold those we have.
wave corporations will give only
9"'" rates as they are compelled to
e,'e IN order not to lose a customer.
iuefe can be none of the broad spirit
VI morality that the city can display
-U' the benefit of its entire public
lie city can do this, we believe and
''''s| because it is more economical
q conducted plant and because it is
nee from certain conditions that sur
lounu privately owned plant to the
uetrlment of its service.
A municipality owned plant, to be.
." "lth' only represents an actua
S"'iyalzation of money put into it foi
oeiinery and other equipment. Il
0eS NOT issue securities to fill the
souets OF private promoters. A pri
eiy owned plant, such as we have