The daily sentinel., 1913-07-10
WOLF EXPLAINS
HIS STATEMENT
Grand Junction, Colorado.
July Ia IQI9


July 10, 1913.
Dear Sir: Referring TO your edi-
torial of Tuesday in which YOU char
acterized my statement as to the val
ue of the electric plant a wild and
probably In part idotiC, / would say
that my statement was not $50. 900 to
100000, but sec. 900 TO $4,000. If
you will kindly follow this. my ex-
PLANTATION, you may come to the con-
clusion that this statement was not
as you seem to think. the product of
disordered mind, but bears very
well the test of logic.
As to the sacred rights of corpor-
ations, l have views OF my own. prin-
cipally produced by the sacredness in
which the rights of the people are,
and have been considered on the part
of corporations. This part. however.
does not matter as ! desire. the COM
pany should get dollar for every
dollars worth of property turned ov-
er to the city and usually corpora
tions are very well able to take cara
of their interests.
may state firstly, that | have liv-
ed for many years In country
where the people would consider a
such public utilities as railroads
telegraph, electric plants. gas plants,
etc, as absolutely preposterous. 1
never heard of rebates, free passes,
determinations, buying of newspa-
pers or Hobbies.
Secondly, | lived In town of Colo
rado is seven years where competi-
tion of two rival plants was obtained.
| paid $500 per 1,500 c. p. arc, per
month in winter and $3.50 in sum-
mer, and 80 cents per month per l6
C. y. incandescent, with the privilege
of burning them as long as / wanted.
In short / paid $3.50 for a light SER
vice which would cost at local pre-
vailing rates $41.00, or thereabouts
And still the company made money.
Thirdly, lived in another town
where monopoly prevailed and also
rate of Is cents per kilOwatt hour
When the kicks of the people became
too insistent the company issued
statements that they could scarcely
pay 3 per cent on their investments
| was one of several who investigat-
ed the capitalization Of the company
and the finding was, that the com
pany, a one-horse affair, had out
standing $40, 900 worth of or 5
per cent IL do not exactly remember)
bonds and 250,000 OF stock of moro
or less doubtful nature on which they
were paying dividends. How far theh
franchise was renewed and what 9TH
er gymnastics in political and finan-
cial way they performed, belongs in
another chapter, but not in this mar
rative.
Fourthly, now, Mr. Walker, please
| Ia lFn nd 1s. he.
book says, understanding Is some
times given to HOLSTERS and withheld
from sages, even if they are editors
a neighboring town of about $500
population decided to take off the
dubious blessing of a corporate own
ed light company and build a munich
pal plant.
The plant in question was op-
Grated by steam. Ii was provided
with a double set of dynamos for
emergency cases, the town was wired
and all things pertaining to a plant
of this size was bought, including
new street lamps, all told, for less
than $4,000. The coal at that place
cost $500 per ton. The city began
selling juice at cents per kilowatt,
lighted the streets gratis and 'nuiable
dictu," still made money. Consider
ing that plant double that size would
be adequate for our needs, further
considering that in that place freight
and labor are the highest in the state
|, in my simplicity, imagine that for
$4,000 this city of Grand Junction
could build a plant brand new and up
to-date.
AS not, the building of new, but
the taking over Of an old plant, is
considered, | imagine rightly or 9TH
erwise, that there might be a de-
probation, even in corporate proper
ty, and ii should be consequently
cheaper than new. | always thought
that the local plant is not any differ
ent from any plant anywhere else.
The poles are not of rosewood or
ebony. | never noticed any carved
marble Dorion columns, Corinthians,
capitals. or grand Mosaics. The
wires seem to be of copper, not of
gold, or platinum, unless 1t is con-
cealed from our profane view, and
therefore, although you may consid-
er my view wild, exotic, riotous, ri
dieulous or otherwise, | still think
that if the city buys the plant for
actual value that $4,000 or there
abouts is a fair price to pay.
| don't know who, owns the plant
or holds stock. but | want the city
to get fair deal as well as the COM
pany.
If anybody thinks that this issue
can be silenced will be mistaken. me
city will own its utilities no matter
if or you advocate or oppose it.