La Junta tribune., 1913-03-15
LIGHT ON the LIGHT QUESTION
Getting Started Right 10 Most I'm.
portAnt Factor In Munieipa,
osnsrship.


Junta concerning municipal owner
ship OF an electric light plant. The
Tribune has always been strong for
municipal ownership OF both the wa
ter and electric light plant. and will
advocate municipal ownership of the
light plant when the psychological
moment arrives, but that time will
not arrive until August 3. 1917. when
the contract with the present cleo
trio light company expires, The Tri-
bune advocated municipal ownership
Ot the electric light plant previous to
the city election OF April. 1905. when
Ia proposition to bond the city for
$50. 900 to install An electric light
plant Was voted down by MAORI
ty Of l25. At that election a22 tax.
payers were entitled to vote but on
~ 800 availed themselves of the pri-
vilexe The vote for the bonds was
80. and against the bonds al3-a ma
tority against OF i.5. or nearly three
to one. 4 proposition TO vote bonds
to the amount Of $50. 400 for addition
al water works was voted down At
the same time by majority Of 81.
Under the law you cannot vote
bonds for any purpose. save water.
except at general election. and
you cannot vote bonds for any pur-
pose. save water. In excess OF three
per cent OF the assessed valuation.
The assessed valuation OF La Junta
for the year 1872 is 81 1852 .5s5. and
three per cent of this amount is $3'.-
$685. La Junta Is already bonded
for park purposes TO the amount ot
SO. 900. and this would leave avail
abb. to establish an electric light
plant the sum of s2i.s1o.sS. This Is
not enough. Besides. there is the
contract with the Arkansas Valley
hallway. Light and Power Company.
which -xax signed And executed by
the present city council on Septem'
ber 5. 1912. for the 'uncxpircd term
Of tn. franchise granted" by which
the city Is bound to pay for not lesk
than sixty.five street lights AT the
rate Of $50 per year per light. or So
zoo per annum for all. The amount
that is paid by the city for street
lights each year would pay interest
at five per cent ON "a bond issue OF
Sl0& .0O0--enough To build two eicc-
,ric light plants in La Junta. The
fact that we are bound by a contract
to purchase street lights from a cor
poration for the "unexpircd term Of
franchise grantesi''-August ). 1917
IL unfortunate. but 1t Is nevertheless
true. AZ any one can find out TO his
: own satisfaction by making the nee
exsary Inquiries Of the powers that
be- at the city hall.
Under the terms Of ordtaance M.
i7;. passed by the ely council IN
July. 1907. granting n franchise aud
, right os way to IN" I.s Junts Elec.
} trio Company. section No. reads ~
follows: THE franchise and right.
of. way granted by this ordinance II
granted upon the express condition
that the city shall. NJ any time. have
the right and power. nj any time.
! 10 purchase. or. ~ hereinafter pro
vided. Ia condemn all Of the com.
pany's works and plant at It's ac'
tual cash value and NJ n price "x.
ciuding all value Of franchiscsor right
city and also excluding any value by
virtue Of any contract for lighting.
or other wise. entered into between
the said company and the city. In
. excess Of the actual cash value Of
said plant or works. provided that
nothing herein shall authOrix" the
condemnation Of said plant or works
: NJ any other time. except nj per.
iod of ten years sf,cr the granting
of this franchise As by statute In
. such case provided
? Considering the fact that ~"
city II hound by contract with tn"
Arkansas Valley Railway. Light and
Power Company IN pay $500 pr
year sor not less than sixty.fivc
street tights for IN" unevplr"d term
n the franchise granted" II h very
doubtful whether II would b" Wis"
10 establish \ municipal plant. and
purchase the local plant ~ its actual
cash valmc. while having this $1,000
street lighting burden IN addition ="
the interest burden of n bond issn"
10 take care of each year. street
light on every corner inside the cor.
pornte limits. and = white way on
Colorado and Ranta - avenues. and
armand the court house park II the
most inviting and a1Iurjng proSpect At