The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-11-21
COMMISSIONER | VOSS
URcES4C.[|GAT RATE
Gives Out Statement Proving &c
Rate Profitable to Duluth
Edison Company.

Clear profits of $12c,:c1 can oe real
lied annually by the Duluth Edison
Electric company on Accent rate for
commercial lighting according to a.
statement prepared by Commissioners
Voss in, connection with his alterna-
tive ordinance presented to the coun-
Gil at special meeting last week.
This profit leaves out Of consideration
the natural increase of business that
would follow the reduction from the
present rate of Scents. -
Commissioner Voss used the COM
Dany's figures submitted to the coun-
ty auditor and with these as a basis
shows how the electric company can
make a net income of 5 per cent Of
$2,500,000 valuation of the plant.
This is about three times the physical
valuation Of the plant. Mr.. voss
claims. =.
His Statement.
The statement given out this morn
ing follows:
"A Accent ordinance has been under
careful consideration for six weeks,
and was suggested by me before there
was any talk Of the scent contract
submitted for the company. AS in all
matters that have come up for con-
sideration regarding the lighting prop
osition, the commission before acting
wished to be'sure Of it's ground, and
that any contemplated move was fully
warranted, practical and beyond ques-
ton for the advantage of the city and
Its citizens.
1T has been freely charged in the
press, by strong partisans of the
electric company, that the commission
has acted hastily on some of these
lighting matters. Such charges arc
without foundation. No move has
been made without full investigation
and the most careful consideration,
and It is only fair to the commission
that citizens should realize this. Tho
sole object Of the commission is to act
for the best interests Of the city and
es of the people. Any man or body Of
men may err In Judgment. but 1t is
only fair to the commission, working
single-heartedly for the best interests
of the city, that everyone in doubt as
to the wisdom of their course. should
find out direct from the commission
the reasons for. their action 'before
4 JudsH1 Itrsf1 been stated:
often that the public can be induced
to Sign any kind of petition This
has been evidenced by the petition
for the. initiative for Scent con-
tract. It is safe to say ninety-nine
per cent Of the signers had no ac-
curate information as to the real facts
which will try to outline:
First the commission had a palms.
taking appraisal of all the property of
the Duluth Edison company made by
two of the best known experts in the
country, men who often act on the
side Of corporations. After several
months work the physical value of
the Duluth Edison plant was place at
the Duluth Edison plant was placed at
100000 additional, and this apprais-
al has not been successfully attacked
In any manner as to its correctness
by the company. The same experts
made careful plans and estimates as
to cost Of a new modern plant for the
city, capable of competing for all the
business now handled by the Duluth
Edison plant which would cost
$644,100, and careful estimate of
operating expenses, interest, main
tenance and sinking fund, and from
such figures the city is satisfied that it
Continued On Paxe"6.