Morris tribune., 1912-03-22
BY ALDERMAN LAWLER.
The Truth About the Electric
Light Plant.

pJaQI controversy SIoAC ia IAAS
city and by good luck, misfortune,
Willingness or otherwise. / got deep
II tied up in same, being selected
on the then electric light plant COM
mittee appointed by the chairman of
ascitizens mass meeting. We went
on and held our various meetings.
/ could see no sentiment in the COM
mittee with regard to the interests
of the public only to go ahead and do
things regardless of expense. This
! did not like Regarding my
responsibilities to the public-decid-
ed to call halt and at our second
meeting called their attention to the
matter and said to the committee
that before we create any great ex-
pense to the public we had better
determine Mr.. Stewards rights to
our streets and alleys. Mr.. Deven-
ney said that was Stewards business.
Paul Spooner said it was matter
for our consideration and he would
look it up. Our next meeting was
in Mr.. Geenty's Office about ten days
later when Mr.. Wolff, representing
the Minneapolis Steel and Machinery
c.. called here on his way-as it
appeared - from Browns Valley.
There was a number of citizens at
that meeting outside of the commit
tee to hear what Mr.. Wolff had to
say. Messrs. Vinje, Kruger and
Watzke Were there.
Mr.. Wolff went on and told them
they could have plant installed
for from SIG. 900 to $40, 900 but he
could not exactly say as he would
need a map or plat of the city, and
could serve the public for 6 to 8
cents. He condemned the oil engine
formerly recommended by Mr.. Gar
land (Which the committee had previ-
ously fallen toy and recommended his
producer gas engine, which took very
favorably with them. We were to
send him map of the city, he to
draw plans and let US know what a
plant would cost.
I said to them again before we put
the public to any expense in this
matter l wished to make the same
suggestion made in Mr.. Spooner's
office at our last meeting. Mr.. Spoon
er was not at that meeting and asked
what that was. said "to determine
Mr.. Stewards rights to our streets
and alleys before we put the public
to. any expense. :" Mr.. Wolff said
"Haven't you done this?" Of course
the answer was mo" "Well." he
said "that is the very starting point
for have known towns to go as far
as to buy their plant and when they
cut the first pole there was an in
junction served on them and they were
thrown into court for two or three
years. ''That is your very start
ing point" he said. "WeIl," Mr..
Spooner said, "there is lot of work
toitnat but if the city will employ
a competent man to read over all
those records since the time the
plant started and mark and set out
the particular parts l will pass on
them Free" A few nights after an
other meeting was called and the
purpose was to get man to read
over those records and mark the parti-
cuEar parts and it was suggested the
city would stand the expense as
it might take four or five days.
said did not know whether the city
would or not as this is no one man.
council and we had better get their
permission first and then have the
work done. NO." said Mr.. Deven-
ney, "we will employ Mr.. Cherry
at SIS. 90, per day and if the city
wont pay it we will. :" "Well,"
said, Ell will not approve of that. :"
However, Mr.. Cherry went on and
read the records and Mr. Spooner at
our later and last meeting that at
tended said Mr.. Stewards contract
would be out Feb. IA, 1912 and that
he had no rights under the old fran
chise, which l. took exception to
Claiming he had acquired rights by
service and it would take tire and
money to get him off the Streets.
The next thing was to submit our
report and recommend the gas pro
ducer engine and sign up. took an
other exception and said, 81 will
not sign it for am not in a position
to recommend gas producer to the
public at this time. ] have never
seen one and do not know anything
about it. - SIN fact" I said. 81
will refuse to sign the report" and
did not. L did not see any thing
wrong in the report further than that
never did believe that they could
do what they claimed they could nor
did ever believe they could get a