The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-03-20
3. That the city should take the
plant over and operate it;


plant over and operate it.;
4. That the lights sometimes go
out to the annoyance of the patrons;
5. That the rates are too high.
There may be other objections, but
principal ones.
In answer to the first objection that
the franchise itself, sought to be re-
newed, was granted several years ago,
it may be conceded that such is the
fact, anu yet that in itself can be no
objection if the provisions of the
franchise are reasonable and proper.
There are many business men living
in Denison who were living here when
the franchise was granted and we
think it will be safe to appeal to their
judgment that the franchise is along
the line of franchises in other cities
of the state. If new franchise should
be prepared it would necessarily en-
brace practically all of the features
in the one which is sought to be re-
newed The statute provides for the
renewal of a franchise and this is
what is proposed by the Electric Light
company.
In answer to the second objection,
that the plant is a gold mine to it's
owners, it may be said that, if such
is. the case the owners have been un-
able to discover the fact. Those who
are familiar with the history of the
plant could testify to quite the con-
trary. For thirteen years the owners
of the plant operated it and furnished
lights for the town and paid it's taxes
without the receipt of dollar in the
way of dividends. 1t is only within the
last three or four years that any divi-
dend has been paid. We think
it is well-known fact that
the plant as originally construct
ed was something of disap.
pointment to those who came into the
ownership of it soon after it's construc.
ton. After repeated efforts to oper.
ate the plant in the condition it was
turned over by the parties who erect
ed it, it was decided that nothing
short of renewal OF the plant could
secure satisfactory results and with
that end in view the company ex-
pended in the neighborhood Of thir-
teen thousand dollars at one time to
improve the plant and make it what
was then an up-to-date plant. Since
then it develops that new system
must be adopted to keep pace with
the progress that has been made in
electric light plants and it is because
of the fact that it will become neces-
sary to expend large amount of
money that the franchise is asked for
at this time. The purpose of the COM
pany is, within the next two or three
years, to expend from eight thousand
to twelve thousand dollars in order to
change the system and increase the
motive power of the plant to answer
the demands of the times. 1t is the
hope of the company that it will be
able to exchange the old machinery
in part for up-to-date machinery and
equipment by paying the difference
in money, and it necessarily may re-
quire some time to bring this about,
but the probabilities are that before
the expiration Of the present fran
chise and certainly before the expira-
tion of three years these improvements
will be made. 1t may be possible to
operate the plant in an unsatisfactory
manner for the two uneXpired years
of the present franchise, but certain
ly the improvement must be made
of furnishing light and power for Den
ison will become serious one. And
it is with this thought in mind that
the company is asking the franchise
at this time because without it 1T
could hardly be expected to embark
in line OF Improvement which will
amount to in the neighbOrhood OF sew
eral thousand dollars.
In answer to the third objection,
that the city should take the plant
over and operate it, all that is neces-
sary to say is that, if at any time
after voting the franchise and before
or after the Improvements are made,
the city shall desire to take over the
plant the company will at least give
the city the first option to purchase
the plant before selling to anyone else.
This statement is made by the owners
OF the plant advisedly and with full
appreciation of it's meaning, and
means that the city can purchase if it
SO. desires.
In answer to the fourth objection,
that sometimes the lights go out to the
disadvantage of the patrons, it may
be conceded that at times such is the
case, and, if there is any business in
Denison that some times does not have
a hitch in its operations, we would
be glad TO know about it. There are
a number of parts to an electric light
plant, all of which must cooperate in
order to render perfect service. And
as long as the machinery is liable to
break or get out of repair there will
be danger of the lights going out oc-
casionally, but it is safe to say that
the Denison Electric Light company
is furnishing higher grade OF service
than the average plants throughout
the country The city has always pro-
tected itself against any street light
going out by proper deductions in its
settlement with the company.
In answer to the fifth objection, that
the rates are too high, we are salts
fed that such is not the opinion OF
the business men of Denison or those
who have investigated the charges
of other plants under the same con-
GitiOns When the agitation was uD