The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1914-08-13
HIGH FALLS PROJECT DISCUSSED.

The members of the city council met
last evening in informal session to talk
over with officials of the High Falls
Power Company the question of fran
chse permitting the Company to run
its electric power lines into the city.
For the company there were present
Mr.. c. c. Smith, Milwaukee million
aire capitalist and public service oper-
ator who is president OF the company
and Mr.. G. r. Finnessey, general super
ietendent of the High Falls plant and
lines and the company's Green Bay
public utilities.
Mr.. Smith said that the European
war has made financing the quarter
million dollar proposition a little diff
cult but he thinks that in 60 days finan-
cling will be easier. The matter was
thoroughly discussed. Aldermen
Scherer, Thorison, Schuetze, Bigel
and Georgenson took part in the dis
cussions.
tally concern the aldermen, that that
is largely a matter between them and
their customers and will have TO be
low enough to lure them from steam,
! and besides rates are always subject to
regulation. There is 5000 orse power
at High Falls and $500 more will be
developed below at Johnson Falls.
The proposition is to have the Com
pany sell directly to all consumers who
use over 30 horse power and to sell
to the city power enough to supply its
own wants and to retail for small con-
sumers. The company cannot afford to
duplicate the city's distribution system
| to reach small consumers. At Green Bay
even coal docks are using High Falls
| Power. There has been only two or
three Interruptions in service in three
years and they were only for n few
hours. The Company will not come
in If it must sell all its current to
the city for the city to resell. The
Mayor favored buying it all aud this
seems to be the big stumbling block.
| The company wants to be free TO go
out and work up the business for itself.
At Green Bay there is a wide range
of rates although all consumers of the
same quantity and continuity of use
are rated alike. Mr.. Smith said that
they can furnish power cheaper than
our steam plant can and also have the
great advantage of lleXibility, that is,
pay for what you use and increase pow
err used without an increase Of invest
ment.
During the session Mr.. Finnessey ex-
planned the system of minimum rates
for power that they have in force, a
very pertinent subject as the Railroad
Commission will hold hearing here
Friday on that subject. The city had
tried to think of some plan for basing
the minimum rate on the probable
maximum load of the consumer but
had finally felt compelled to go to the
horsepower of the motor served. Mr..
Finnessey explained how they based
theirs on the highest probable load,
which is palpably the just method and
the council authorized the attorney to
inform The commission that such a
scheme would be acceptable TO the ci-
ty instead of the cruder method of
measuring by the horse power indlca-
ted on the manufacturers plate.
Before adjourning the council agreed
with Mr.. Smith that he submit propos-
ed rates 70 the city and to the Railaoad
Commission.
1t looks as if the proposition might
be adopted. Cheap power to help
build up the city is the principle con-
sideration.