The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-08-15

action that means the expenditure OF
large sums which come out of the
/ taxpayers.
Would Have Rate War.
DR.. j. w. Andrews: / am not in
favor of the city putting in munich
pal electric lighting plant. The city
is not in financial condition to do
| it at this time. / don't believe it
would be wisdom on the part of the
city to do commercial lighting in
competition with the Consumers
| Power company or any other COR
poration. If the city should build
plant and attempt to sell commercial
| lighting a rate war would surely re-
suit much to the disadvantage of
the city and its finances. If the city
has money to spend in the way of
lighting the city, let's have the
white way" or the luminous way
as it is called and keep in pace with
our neighboring cities.
Should BE Cautious, $50
H. A. Patterson: Having been as
sociated with former owners of the
lighting company in Mankato, | hest
tate to express an opinion in the
present controversy on this subject.
However, as a taxpayer with no in
terest whatever in the Consumers
Power company, am glad of an OPP
portunity to say word to help our
city officers in their efforts to solve
this difficult problem. 1t seems to
me they should proceed with ex-
IRENE caution before launching mu-
nicipaI enterprise. Every effort
should be made to decide what are
Just and reasonable rates for street
and commercial lighting and only in
the event that a very considerable
reduction would positively result
from a municipal plant should we
assume the heavy burden of bonding
our city 100000 to $15O,OOO more. If
the limit of Indebtedness is reached
to settle this question how are, we
to provide our city with the neces-
sary water mains to adequately pro-
tect us against fire, and the storm
sewers to prevent flooding Easements
in the business section every time
we have a heavy rain? l feel that
every resource should be strained to
bring about settlement with the
present company and that munich
pal plant should be the last consid-
Grafton.
Should Go Slow
Allan Jackson, manager of the
Standard Oil company: Actual cost
is always more than the estimate.
might favor the expenditure of $780,.
100000 to 100000 (which it would Ill
timately cost this city before a suit
able plant would be secured, if mu-
nicipal ownership would result in
better service or lower cost, but so
far no figures have been given to
show that these results would be
secured, and | am surprised at the
unbusinesslike manner the matter is
being gone into. l have heretofore
felt that we had very conservative
and businesslike administration, but
this, and secret sessions, make it look
as if there might be some truth to the
rumor that the present agitation is
largely to boost the political ambi.
lions of a few gentlemen. That is
the danger of municipal ownership.
Let us go slow.
Should Have Fair Return.
Charles T. Taylor, former mayor:
If the Consumers Power company
will furnish electricity and power at
a reasonable rate I do not see the
necessity of municipal lighting
plant believe the Consumers Pow
er company is entitled to a fair re-
turn on it's investment. This light
ing question should be viewed as
business proposition. Prejudice
should have no place in it's discus
sions.
Rates Are Reasonable.
w. d. Willard, cashier of the First
National bank: l would want to
know the initial cost and the ex-
pense of operating a municipal cleo
trio lighting plant before l gave my
endorsement to the proposition that
one be built. / believe that the Con-
sumers Power company is giving the
city and the consumers reasonable
rates.
Better Have Peace.
George Scherer: l am thoroughly
convinced that Mankato is not ready
for municipal lighting plant There
are so many different aspects to
this question that the authorities
best make haste slowly and not in
volve the municipality in expenses,
the end of which cannot be estimated.
II the council establish plant pure
~ for municipal lighting. they add
just so much to the burden of the in
dlyldual consumer. If they establish
plant large enough to include COM
merelal lighting they must provide
for an expenditure of at least $4,000
and still leave the consumer of gas at
the mercy of the Consumers Power
company unless the city can positive
ly monopolize the lighting feld-as
the present company now does-it
will be sure to prove financial