The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-04-17

the four years above enumerated.
Takes Up company's Figures.
From the company's own figures.
we find that I'm the year 1910, Il
cost the company s20.s57.S6 to pro-
duce and distribute over forty mil
lion feet OF gas, while in 1913. its
production and sale OF gas had
shrunken 10 about thirty-fve and
one-half million feet of gas and its
costs to produce and distribute this
smaller amount Of gas had appar-
emily increased to s3O,645 81, nearly
ten thousand dollars or fifty per
cent more.
In the year 1911, the company
produced and sold six million feet
OF gas less than in the year 1910.
but again the cost OF production and
distribution is claimed to have been
about $1,000. 90 more than In the
previous year. te
Again, in the year, 1912, the COM
pany produced and sold over six mil
lion feet OF gas less than In the
year 1910, but claims that II cost
nearly $4,000. 90 more to, produce
and distribute this smaller quantit,
of gas, 10. s.
"or. placing this in other figures
the Consumers Power company
claims that in the years 1911, 1912
and 1913 the average operating ex-
pense for each year was s2s,5s3. SO
to produce an average OF less than
thirty-five million feet OF gas; being
$4,000 90 each, year more than In
the year 1910, during which year
the company sold FIVE million feet
more gas than, this average shows.
Cost Of Labor.
Il concede and admit that the cost
of labor has increased. likewise the
cost of material that enters into the
production of gas, however, there
was no evidence introduced to show
that the cost (which ought to be
the largest item in the production OF
gas) had advanced in price. To the
contrary. the sums paid for coal I'm
the years 1911, 1872 and 1918 are
SnONu tu be less IMAM cucu ouiuS
paid for coal in the year, 1910.
Now. sin view and in considera-
ton OF all this, come to the con-
clusion that various items have been
improperly charged by the Consum-
ers' Power company to operating ex-
pense and that a decided reduction
! should be made i'm these various
amounts claimed to have been ex.
pended for operating the gas plant.
.''In this opinion the other two
members Of the commission agree
with me. but make a reduction of
$4,000 for the yearssJ911. 1912 and
1918, while assume these figures
i to have been increased by at least
$4,000 .QQi for 1.-THE three years under
consideration. i, pa
Now then in view OF all these
facts above enumerated I recommend
to the city council fof the city of
Mankato, the, spassage of an ordi-
nance fixing 81 per thousand cubic
feet, as the highest maximum
amount, the Consumers Power COM
pany shall have a right to charge
consumers of gas in the city of Man
kato. Respectfully submitted, George
w. Scherer." III.
From Mondays Daily.
Several prominent citizens were
present TO urge the city council at
the regular meetingq this morning to
appropriate $4,000 with which to CON-
plete the Armory building. They took
the view that It would be a disgrace
to have the completion of the build
ing delayed through lack OF funds.
The council refused to act on the
proposition, however.
DR.. J. w. Andrews was the first
OF these speakers. He recalled TO
mind that the state had donated S15,-
900 for the building and many citizens
had been very liberal In giving money
for the new building. Yet there was
deficiency OF $4,000 in the funds
on hand for the completion OF the
splendid structure. He said he un-
derstood shat the city was obligated
to furnish two janitors to take care
of the building. but he had been in
formed that this obligation would be
waived II the city would furnish the
$4,000 necessary to finish the struc-
ture. A large number af taxpayers
of the city were in favor of the ap-
! preparation OF this money, and the
burden would be of little consequence
to each of them.
4 The mayor said he believed the
doctor was mistaken in saying that
the city was obliged by law to fur
nish the janltor service.
City Attorney Schaub said he had
correspondent on that point with the
/ attorney general and had found that
the law obliging cities to furnish
janitor service did not apply to Man
kato.
Benefit Of Military Company.
General Gustav widell said he did
not believe that there was anything
better for the city than to have 9
good military company. There should
be decent place in which the COM
pany could drill He believed the