The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1915-01-09
KEEP THE PROFITS
IN THE POCKETS
OF THE PEOPLE
"A CONFESSION OF FAITH"

"A CONFESSION OF FAITH"
II believe in service the service of every citizen
in behalf of the civic entity of which he is part
believe that municipal diseases which remain among
us will be driven spoke the News Tribune in
their magazine section st'Sunday
The Labor World firmly believes in the above quo
tation In order however to recognize the real mun1-
cipal and find the proper cure it usually
becomes necessary consult physiclan After this
consultation the may require spec1al1st VINO
shall determine advise the proper method by which
the "cure' is to be administered
For several years the people of Duluth have
cognzed the one great municipal disease" to be the
privately electric lighting system They there
fore decided the proper "cure' to be municipal
light plant" How this cure should be administering
was another problem Several attempts were made to-
arrive at proper understanding. After considerable
difficulty and many years of waiting law passed
in the legislature granting the city of Duluth power
to vote on question of issuing bonds to build a
competing plant.
In the city election 1913 the voters of Duluth
by large majority carried the proposal of issuing
100000 to build such plant
Further investigation the part of the newly
elected commission under the city charter re-
vealed that it probably be better to buy the
listing plant build competing duplicate. Two
specialists called in to give "advise' and make
a valuation of the existing plant.
On July 80, 1914, the following advise given
by Pillsbury & Rittenhouse;
From the viewpoint Of worth to the city, there
city on the assumption that the city is to own and
operate an electric lighting plant for public and pr
vate use. The
NY. The City may purchase the existing plant at
price mutually agreed upon between the city and
the company.
$a "Ths is recommended provided reasonable
Il purchase price be agreed upon
8# (2.) 1.-THE city may institute condemnation pro-
ceedngs provided by law and purchase the existing
plant at figure be decided by the court.
IT1io to o r1odo
sound legal advise, for the that it invites
dous delays, forces fight with resourcefu oppon-
emit, involves considerable expense, the way to
political agitation engenders bitter feeling, and
possibly misinterpreted the deriment of the city
evidence of antagonism toward successful bust
ness
m go. 1.-THE city may build competing plant some
y along the lines of the existing This may
designed the generation of all required electrical
h energy by steam, with the of purchasing
a and converting all the major portion from the
Is Great Northern Power company. o..
''Such plant and system were designed and esti-
mated upon for the city in 1911 The improvement
the plant, system and service of the Great
Power company since that time are, however, such
to warrant simpler and cheaper now such as
B in the following course,
(4) "The city install distribution system
ssting of lines radiating from small substa-
tons located at subcenters of distribution throughout
the city these substatiOns to be supplied current
4 purchased from the Great Northern Power company"
This latter plan these specalists' tell logical
cheap and efficient and would enable city in time
make rates lower than under other plans
y mentioned lower than could profitably be
& made by the existing company.
. "This az is, therefore, the plan which is
recommended in the event Of the of course (1)
8E Course (1) failed. The company to accent
$1,107 900 for 1907 900 plant It refused to set
price. 1t refused to confer with the city II
refused to show to the city wherein valuation made
" by Pillsbury Rittenhouse INADEQUATE which left
the city other logical to pursue than thai
b now being undertaken.
5 If you believe in Duluth, in its homes it's ideals
principles its purpose and its civic leadership vote
yes" on the unit plan and keep the profits in thu
pockets of the people.