Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1916-08-18
Carl Bolander,
President pro TEN.
attended to at once.

attended to at once.
n. n. Bergheim informed the coun.
Gil that he had called meeting of the
elect ric light rate committee for the
purpose of framing report to the
city council, as requested, but that
only three Of the members were pres
ent at the meeting and mat for that
and other reasons, it was impossible
for the committee to submit a report
at this time. The subject Of rates is
an important and technical one, and
requires great deal Of time to inves-
tigate, he said. The committee may be
able to give a complete report in a
month to six weeks, however, he said.
An estimate had been secured on the
expense of getting an expert to make
a scientific investigation as to the
rates, and the expense was found to
be large but not prohibitive, Mr..
Bergheim said. The cost Of such SER
vice would be about $35 per day. The
committee has decided to try and ar
rive at satisfactory rate without
getting an expert.
P. J. Vasaly, also a member of the
rate committee, said that this matter
should not be rushed, as similar situa-
tions have arisen throughout the state
sreccuxi and there is a great deal of
agitation in this line. The committee,
he said, should not be held down to
any particular time as it takes a great
deal Of time to get material to work
on. AS yet the local committee has
but gotten fairly started, he said, and
it may take weeks and even months
before they will be ready to submit
any report. The committee was grant
ed more time.
Mr.. Bergheim asked the council
what progress the city clerk and city
attorney had made in regard to look
ing up old contracts, franchises and
ordinances, with the Water Power
company. Mr.. Cameron stated that
they were unable to find the original
contract for the lighting but that a
certified copy from the printers aft
davit had been secured from the Water
Power company. The original contract
was made in 1889 and ten years later
certified copy was fled with the city
clerk. Mr.. Cameron enumerated var
iousz ordinances covering the COM
pany's operations in this city and also
signment Of one franchise from w. M.
Fuller and S. Stoll to the Little Falls
Light, Power & Heating company. He
also said that copies of the assign
ments of the lighting and water con-
tracts from the Little Falls Light,
Power & Heating company and the
Morrison County Heat, Light & Power
company, to the Little Falls Water
Power company, had been made out
and had been presented to the city
clerk recently
In regard to the missing light con-
tract John Wetzel stated that it might
possibly be found by writing to Mr.
Bennett Of st. Cloud. The firm of
Calhoun. & Bennett acted as attorneys
for the city Of Little Falls in suit
against the Water Power company sew
eral years ago, he said, and he possibly
might have the contract with other
effects of the office. It was also said
that the contract might be found
among the other papers in the case
which are on file in tho United States
court, where the case was tried.
+ Mr.. Bergheim suggested referring
the proposed electric light ordinance
W q NOuACAA COlAMACCCO VI d CtG1At34S
committee, who could discuss it intel:
igently and later bring it before the
citizens at a public meeting. zP::e-J.
Vasaly thought that the, first thing to
do is to find out what the existing con:
tracts, franchises and ordinances are,
and that the proposed extension Come
afterward. +--. -...-e. - -.
e Alderman. Hall suggested that the
old light contract be published :in-b6tA
local papers if the original can be ;ae=
cured and if it cannot be- -securedEtn
have the certified copy pd4ished N6
action was taken on this suggestion.
DR.. w. II. Il. Meyer, a member of
the electric light rate committee, said
that the thing the people now want
to know is where we stand in relation
to the present franchises. They want
to know what franchises the company
are operating under and whether the
franchises are valid. He said that in
his opinion the fact that The franchises
have not been assigned from the old
companies to the new woull render
them invalid and imperative.
Barney Burton suggested. getting an
expert to look the matter up from
start to finish. City Attorney Cameron
took this as . slam Ct him as not hav-