The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-05-08
: GET AT FACTS"
IS VIEWPOINT
OF: TAXPAYERS
Question of Profit Should be
Given Consideration in the
Light Plant Matter.
SENTIMENT NOT
A GUIDING POWER
II Private Corporation can Give Grand
Forks its Electricity Cheaper Than
Municipality Can Make it, Business
Men Believe in Contract.

Several business men Of the city
have been called upon by The Times
representatives today and interviewed
as to their stand upon the power plant
and the lighting offers.
An investigation such as was de-
cided upon by the city council seems
TO be generally approved.
p. J: Lander believes that the most
need at present Is knowl-
edge Of the facts underlying the en-
tire situation. I'VE should go slow
IN letting go of our municipal plant"
he said. I'VE cannot do anything un-
til we have basis to work upon; that
oasis must be comprehension of the
costs and expenditures involved. If
the council hasn't got the time to in
vestigate, or can't for itself ascertain
what Is to be done. l think COM
mission of three business men of the
city ought to be placed in charge. 1t
Is business proposition. and one
that should be looked at from a busi-
ness point of view. The first thing
to ascertain is costs and probable ex-
penditures necessary"
"Let Us Have the Facts"
Alderman James Dinnie also stated
that the prime necessity Is a basis to
work from. Let us have the facts,
and we will then know what to do in
this matter. believe the old plant
should be renovated and put into
good shape. If we discover that we
can't operate the municipal plant eco
nomically then believe we should
make other arrangements. The charge
that corporation is dangerous
thing is nonsensical. Most of the
business men of this city hold inter-
ests In one or more corporations.
There is no danger in dealing with
corporation: 1t must be remember
ed that Grand Forks is pretty big
corporation itself and quite able to do
some good bargaining. Before we do
anything let us get at the facts; no
case ought to be decided before ali the
evidence%is in. II we are losing $8,-
900 or some other amount in the pres
ent plant let us find out where the
leakage isl
Which -, Probable?
Fred L. Goodnan;~when Interview
ed, stated tkxR heShaa not investigat-
stand until he had ascertained the
facts involved. He was of the opinion
that $4,000 is large amount. Of
money to invest, but If it would be
profitable to do so. it should be in
vested. Mr.. Goodman felt that no
stand could be taken by him until he
had been more fully informed as to
the facts involved.
Sentiment Not a Factor.
Sentiment should not be factor
IN settling the question: said w. H.
Shulze.' "In this modern day 1t is a
matter of dollars and cents; II the city
can buy Its power from q private cor
poration cheaper than it can make
that power itself, then my opinion
would be to buy it. That is the mod
ern business way, and a city should be
operated upon business basis. Thor
ough investigation of the facts. which
would give the city officials something
to work on. seems advisable"
r. b. Griffith stated this afternoon
that the light should be purchased
where 1t can be gotten the cheapest.
If the light can be produced at the
municipal plant cheaper than it can
be bought elsewhere then we'll and
good. If reputable private concern
can sell the light to the city cheaper
than the city can produce 1t itself,
then 1t should be bought from such
considered first. last and all the time.
The taxpayer should not be asked to
support g municipal lighting plant
which is losing the city money for the
mere sake Of saying that the city has
lighting plant Of its own. "1t is the
duty Of the city council" said Mr..
Griffith, "to get power and light for
the city on as economical basis as
possible"
Nothing to Prejudice.
ut would seem to me-" said DR.. J.
D. Taylor, that this question of pow-
er should be dealt with in the same
manner that one would take care Of
his own business men. If the Red
River Power company can give us
power cheaper than we can make 1t
ourselves, that is the place to get it.
This proposition of prejudice,
there's nothing to it. in my opinion.
We should not let any prejudice we
against our own best interests 1t is
simply matter Of dollars and cents"
Perfect City Plant.
Samuel Torgerson Is of the opinion
that the city should perfect its plant
and make it efficient. He thinks that
the city can and should furnish its
lighting company on the grounds
that doing 80 would mean the placing
Of the city in the hands of a private
corporation. At Fargo the light rate
is higher than 1t is proposed to get II
for here. and that rate is due, he said,
to the fact that there is a lack Of COM
petition. The local plant should be
maintained.
Favors european Plan"
j. d. Bacon thought that the best
method to pursue would be to have u
committee of investigation appointed
to ascertain the facts about the situa.
ton. The city should know what It is
getting. He favored the "European
plan"-pay for what you get. and get
what you pay for. without any facts
before the council, there would be. no
basis to work from. I,
4 The main thing to get at are facts
involved. There ought to be no great
dimculty in ascertaining the facts az
to cost Of production. The PROPOSE.
tion resolves itself into one Of dollars
and cents. sq@s.!! s
Maintain Municipal Plant.
( H. A. Bronson said that every effort
should be made to maintain nun-
nicipal plant. The public utilities cor
pOration should be perfected. The
time has not come yet whom the m,-
nicipnl utility should be declared j
failure. he said.
The history OF corporations furnish-
CONTINUED on Pare S.3