The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-07-04
Move In Direction
Municipal Light Plant
From Mondays Daily.

the motion OF the COUNCIL OF Su"e {,
Is evasive, incomplete and unsatis-
factory and not sufficient to make
calculations upon, looking to the re-
newal of the city's lighting contract, 1
and,
Whereas, the city of Mankato is
a progressive and up-to-date city,
should, through its officials and fis-
cal AGENTS, obtain, at the earliest
possible date, sufficient, certain, def
mite and reasonable quotations OF
rates for gas and electric lighting,
for each and every lighting, appara-
tus used in modern cities, including
arc, street, incandescent and gas
lichts for use for hanging and fixing
lights, including the various lights
used in cluster lighting and white.
way" lighting in common use in
first class cities, so that IL may be
In position at the expiration of its
present contract, to procure a def
mite and certain agreement from
capable and responsible sources to
provide light at reasonable rates,
for its present system, and any ad-
ditional system or systems, including
the "white way" system, If its citi-
xens desire to install the same, and
Whereas, the present rates chars-
ed TO private consumers by the Con-
sumers' Power company, Of 81
monthly minimum charge, and 9
cents per kilowatt hour with added
penalty for electricity, and SIPS
per 1000 for gas with added pen
atty of IS per 1000 and SO cents
monthly minimum is unreasonable,
excessive and entirely out Of pro-
portion to rates charged by cities
operating their own plants, or charg-
ed to cities by private corporations
operating elsewhere, and whereas 1t
is necessary and expedient that the
city council protect its citizens and
tax payers by providing at an op-
perfume time for the renewal OF
the city contract on a fair business
basis.
Be II Resolved, that the matter
Of the city's lighting contract and
provision for the renewal of the
same and terms to be paid at the
time of the renewal of the said con-
tract be made special order of
business at the regular meeting of
the council to be held July II, 1918,
and that the, Consumers Power com
pany or its agents in this city be
notified of this resolution, and any
others who may be known to be in
terested in contracting with the city
for such service, and that it be
deemed TO be the sense of this coun
Gil, that any person or persons oil
corporation who may desire to make
an agreement with the city of Man
kato for lighting of public streets
alleys, and grounds shall furnish t.
the private consumer electric power
for lighting and cooking and home
consumption at the rate of cent.
per kiiowat hour maximum with ;
minimum charge per month, not t.
exceed SO cents and gas for tn,
same purposes at rate not to ex
coed 81 per 1000 feet maximum
with not to exceed minimum
charge of IS cents per month an,
IT within a reasonable time no pei
SON or corporation offers such rate
the council shall proceed to investigat
the expediency of erecting a mum
eipai lighting plant,
This resolution was introduce
at the council meeting this mornin
hu Hn,poiImop n Ioocb on
passed by vote of three to two
men Lack Gerlich and Bradley vo
Mayor Meyer and Councilman Rol
ert Lamm voted against the pas.
age of the resolution and Council
ed for its passage. After the resoll
ton had been read by City Clerk I
w. Bates, Mayor Meyer said that h
was opposed to it's introduction b,
cause he had over a hundred letter
from various cities giving their ligh
ing rates, and he wanted the coul
cilmen to meet with him and e
over these letters before taking
step. of this kind. Mr.. Lamm agree
with Mr.. Meyer. Mr.. Lack, HOY
ever, insisted on a vote on his res
luton, and said that the time fc
some action of this kind was ge
ting short. He therefore asked fl
a second to- his motion that the re
olution be passed, and tense S
lence pervaded the council chambe
Gam l not going to receive a Sc
on to my notion" insisted M
Lack. After few seconds mo-
of this eloquent silence. Councilms
Gerlich seconded the motion, ar
the resolution carried.
Want the Grade Reduced.
A letter from the sister of Not
Dame. of the Academy of Our Lao
Of Good Council, was read, whit
asked that the city remedy in son
way the steep grade up Good Cou
Gil hill in Dukes addition 1t w
suggested in the letter that the h
be : cut down at the top a fe
feet, and filed in at the bottol
City Engineer H. F. Blomquist sa
that the grade of the hill now is
percent, and that cut of three al
one-half feet at the top and 1
of three and one-half feet at the b,
tom would make a difference of on
per cent in the grade. He seem
tossthink that any radical impro,
of tho hill would he x,orxy 4