Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1914-04-02
RATE MEETING
WELL ATTENDED
LARGE CROWD ATTENDS CON-
MERCIAL CLUB MEETING HELD
I TUESDAY EVENING

There was a large attendance at
the Commercial club meeting held
Tuesday evening for the purpose of
discussing ways and means for in
creasing electrical consumption in the
city and while this, the real purpose
of the meeting, received very little at
tention, still the meeting in many
ways was success.
Mr.. Sinclair Of the Government
power plant gave talk on electricity
and its method of being estimated
showing very clearly just what meth
cd was used to figure its power in
horse power.
Mr.. Arthur also gave an interesting
talk on the connection Of the irriga-
>tion project with the city interests.
Mr.. Palmer, one of the leading far
mers under the ditch entered a plea
for additional consumption in the city.
He said, and truthfully, that the more
power the city used the more profit
the plant made and, as the profit
went to the plant, which eventually is
to belong to the Water Users Associa-
ton, the profit was of direct benefit
to the farmers under the ditch. Bene-
fitting the farmers would in turn bene-
fit Williston so that from every view
point additional consumption in the
city would be good thing.
Mr.. Thomas also appeared for the
Water Users and asked for more con-
sumption and suggested that by can
vassing the city additional power
could be sold and thus the rates low
cred.
Commissioner Bruegger gave long
talk on the expenses of the plant and
city and did not seem to be of the
opinion that a reduction could be made
at, this time. Mr.. Bruegger gave a
sot of figures as to the profits and ex-
penses of the plant. AS there were
few light users there, compared with
the total number Of users in the city,
we will be glad to give in detail in a
future issue the receipts and expenses
Of the plant showing the profits and
various uses for which the receipts of
the plant were used.
The commissioners as a whole seem
to be of the opinion however that a
very low rate can be given for cook
ing and possibly for power. In talk
with one of the commissioners today
we asked if he did not think a cook
ing rate and power rate of four cents
could be given and he said if enough
additional power could be secured to
overcome what they would loose now
on the power or to make it break
nearly even he thought it would be
advisable and that the cooking rate
would be a fine thing.
AS talked over, the city has to pay
the government so much per month
no matter what is used. This amount
covers all and little more than all
One four and a half cent electricity so
that all sold for cooking and power
could reasonably be considered as
three cent power and less after the
consumption increased. We believe
this electricity sold for about four
cents would be a great aid in increas-
ing consumption. The city would not
1oose anything as it would only be
paying three cents for it and selling
it for four cents which would leave
thirteen and one third per cent after
deducting the line loss. A canvass of
the city will be made regarding power
consumption and we believe an excel
lent rate will soon be given on the
cooking and possibly on the power as
bell. With additional consumption in
these two lines the commissioners
would soon be able to see their way
clear to lower the light rates.