The weekly soliphone. (Paragould, Greene County, Ark.) 1907-1918, 1915-07-23

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number of rooms in each building
whether business institution or
dwelling, the number of people liv-
ing in each dwelling and whether
or not they use electric lights. Aft
er checking over this inventory, we
will inaugurate a campaign to in
duce every property owner in Para
gould to use our service. We have
proposition for the man Of small
means, occupying a small dwelling
whereby we give him two lights at
flat rate of sixty-five cents a
month.
1--WE will maintain an office in
the business district and have for
sale electric irons, ranges, warm
ers, coffee pots, coasters, and all
other conveniences that can be OPP
Grated by electricity. From time
to time we will put on demonstra-
tions and offer special inducements
to get people to install electrical
equipment in their homes. We
will revise the rates for power and
household purposes so it will be
economical for the people of Para
gould to use electricity instead Of
other forms of fuel and power. La
ter on We will take up with your
business men a proposition to in
stall an elegant white way in your
city. For the present, however, we
will make no changes either in the
personnel of the local management
or in the policy Of the company
We will have to be allowed a little
time to get things in smooth run
ming order under the new owner
ship and make an exhaustive sur
vey Of the field to determine the
policy we shall pursue"
AID Bertig, the president of the
old company, has been identified
with the local electric plant since
it's establishment in 1890. At that
time glib-tongued artist hit Par
agould and was about to sell the
town a patent lighting system" of
some kind. AID Bertig, A. P. Mack
and DR.. Wyse, in order to forestall
the game of the CRATER, went be-
fore the council and made a propo-
sition to erect an electric light
plant within ninety days. The
council accepted the offer and
granted franchise. A small
plant was erected and was operat-
ed under the name of the Para
gould Electric Light Company. The
cost of the plant did not exceed
$4,000. 1t had about one hundred
about five hundred lights, includ-
ing twenty-five street lights. w.
H. Jones was one of the original
stockholders in the company.
In 1900 the company was reor-
ganized with AID Bertig, w. c. Has
ty, w. H. Jones of this city, and
p. ]. Doerr of st. Louis. The cap
ital stock was increased to 100000
and machinery for making ice was
was increased to 100000. w. G.
Hasty and w. H. Jones disposed of
their stock in the plant, and when
P. J. Doerr of ST. Louis died his
stock went to B. G. Brinkman,
president of the Lafayette Bank of
st. Louis. Other stockholders in
the plant were S. Bertig, Joe Ber-
tig, Mrs. Newt Wright and Dave
Loeb.
The plant has been rebuilt sew
eral times, old machinery being re-
placed by more modern equipment.
The buildings have been enlarged,
additions constructed and the ser
vice extended to all parts of the
city.
Mr.. Bertig stated this morning
he was glad to be relieved of the
management of the plant, so he
could devote all his attention to his
other interests. He says he feels
confident the new owners are prac-
tical public utility men and be-
lieves they will take hold of the
local field and develop it as it
should be developed. Mr. Bertig
declines to give details of several
large improvements he contem-
plates putting on foot in Paragould,
but said the people could rest as
sured his money would not long re-
main idle, that he would soon put
it to work and that Paragould
would profit by its activity,
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