Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-03-27


you consistently say that anyone
has been wronged? / say no one.
except the figures IN the books, but
even they have not been in real mon
ey. IF money had been collected for
hydrants, public schools. public
buildings, drinking fountains, etc,
and paid into the water department.,
the people would have had to pay
a higher tax rate TO meet this amount
of money which, as has been shown,
would have amounted to $9S,i00,
during the last eighteen years. So
it is just like taking money out OF
one pocket and putting it into an
other as our city engineer, E- |.
Philleo, said in his article in the
Grand Rapids Tribune The water
rates in the city of Grand Rapids,
to-day, are lower than those in
neighboring cities of similar size and
We are furnishing much better water
Now, l would like the attention OF
my friends of the Electric Light
Company, making all the noise about
the faults Of the city water works,
to cover up their own (if they have
any | wish to call their attention
to their articles of incorporation
Twin City Electric, as dated August
5, 1897, which expires May 3, 1913.
Article 8. This corporation shall
never declare a dividend greater thai
twelve per cent, per annum TO its
stockholders. When the earnings
exceed thai amount the surplus shall
be placed in a sinking fund for fu-
ture reconstruction and repairs,
or the rental charges shall be re-
duced so as to lessen the earn
ings, as the board of directors may
determine.
Why in the world were the rem
tails not reduced before this admin
istration had passed Ordinance Num-
& III, Nov 6, 1912? Which Ordl-
nance was for the purchase of ar en-
sine to do the pumping at the water
works at a considerable saving to
the city. The Electric Company
answer was, NO" to all PROPOSE
tons looking for reduction in the
rate for pumping. They claimed
that the Electric Company was los
ing money at the rate charged the
city for pumping, and they made
threat to serve an injunction to re-
strain the city from installing or
purchasing an engine to pump Wa
ter with it at the pumping station.
Did they peduce rates to the con-
SINNERS of electric light? NO. At
the council meeting December 3, 1871
they offered a reduction from sc a
X. w. H. TO &c a K. w. H. for pump
ing purposes PROVIDED the city
would maintain the wires and poles
to the pumping station. Do we nave
to pay a royalty TO the Electric Com
pany for furnishing our current sSj'u u
their agency? How much money did
the Twin City Electric Light CO.,
pay the city for their franchise to
the city of Grand Rapids to receive
all these privileges? Not ONE cent
In this connection, l would like to
call attention to franchise or ordl-
nance number 56 given to the lWln
Citv Electric and Water Company,
Nav 3, 189S-Section 6-"The rate
charged by said company for h@ht
and power shall be actual cost Ac-
tual cost to include beside current,
repair and expense a reasonable re-
serve fund for future construction
and reconstruction not exceeding
7 per cent of it's GROSS annual eafu-
ings and rate of interest or Cd
yidends ON it's capital stock not ex-
ceeding II per cent per anmun.
Did the Electric Company adhere 10
section 6? No Did they make any
sweeping reduction to the city Oh
Grand Rapids and their customers