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

This communication was received
by the city council at it's session this
morning:
"Mankato, August l, 191S.-To
The Honorable Mayor and City Com
missioners of the City of Mankato,
Minnesota. Gentlemen: We have
this day, by separate letter, an
swered in detail the questions con-
tanned in your communication OF the
14th ultimo. We believe our reply
completely covers the situation, ana
will furnish to you the desired IN
formation. Should, however, there
be anything further desired, we snail
be pleased at any time to comply
with your wishes.
"In reference to this matter gener-
ally. we desire to add that we hope
that this entire matter will be con-
sidered and handled by you from
purely business standpoint, and that
YOU will thoroughly investigate and
consider the prices submitted to you
and make comparison thereof with
prices charged in other cities OF
similar size, although each situation
stands upon its own facts and is
governed solely by its own condi-
tions. We know that the prices
quoted are more than fair and rea-
sonable and are less than we would
be justified in charging and compare
very favorably with those existing In
other cities. We ask that you thor
oughly investigate the entire matter,
and after such investigation dispose
of it from a purely business stand
point.
Easy to Complain.
I'VE fully appreciate the fact that
il is quite easy for anyone to COM
plain concerning rates charged by
public service corporations, nor does
it seem to be at all necessary that
the complaining party have any
knowledge concerning the subject
matter and often those knowing the
least of the matter complain the
most: and it is also quite often true
that complaints are made and agi-
tation commenced on purely political
grounds and for political reasons
only. This, of course, is to be de-
plored, and avoided if possible.
1--WE beg to remind you that our
company has expended large sums of
money at Mankato and vicinity for
the purpose of furnishing electrical
energy to the citizens of our city.
The returns upon this investment
will necessarily come only with time.
Our interest charges and cost OF
maintenance are heavy, taxes have
increased, and although the demand
for electricity is increasing, the vol
ume of business existing at this
time does not warrant any further
reduction in electric rates. 1t will
be remembered that at the time of
the construction of the Rapidan dam
this company, unsolicited, made a
substantial reduction in both gas
and electric rates at Mankato. The
returns upon our investment do not
at the present time warrant further
reduction, and we cannot, with any
due regard to our obligations to the
community served, furtner reduce the
rates at this time.
Will Lend Assistance.
For the purpose of assisting in
the development of Mankato, and
for the benefit of all concerned, this
company has established power rates
at Mankato as favorable as those
existing in the larger cities, such as
CT DouI opd M;ppoapolic Paoli1
ing that the interests of the city
and our interests are mutually de-
pendent, and that what is for the
benefit of the city is likewise to
our benefit, and realizing that the
smaller cities are going through
struggle at the present time in or
der to maintain their prosperity and
population, the company has estab.
lished power rates, which certainly
will help in the procurement of man.
ufacturing industries. The fact that
by far the greater portion of the in
dustries in our city procure their
power from the company conclu-
sively shows that it is to their in
terest financially to do so, and we
have done all that we can do to
assist in the location of new in
dustries in our city
I'm conclusion, we again ask that
you thoroughly investigate the rates
quoted you for public lighting, and
likewise the reasonableness of the
rates established by this company
for both gas and electricity, and beg
to assure you that should there be
any further information or figures
desired, We will promptly comply
with, your request. Respectfully
yours, Consumers Power Company,
R. E. Brown, manager"
Proposition of Company.
The proposition of the Consumers
Power company follows:
"Mankato, Mimi, August 1, 1873
The Honorable the Mayor and Com
missioners, of the City. of Mankato,
Minnesota. Gentlemen: In response
to your favor of the 14th ultimo, the
receipt of which has been formally
acknowledged. we beg in answer to
the inquiries therein contained, to
reply as follows:
In the first paragraph of your
communication you desire our best
prices per lamp and best meter rate
on 100 luminous globe lamps and
balance of arc lights for the city