The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1916-05-18
LET'S HAVE LIGHT ON
THE LIGHTING QUESTION

The City Council of Sank Centre
have very serious problem before
them for adjustment; namely, the
solving of the proposition of how can
the city be most efficiently and eco
nomically lighted.
AS the people of Sank Centre know,
the Minnesota Light and Power Com
pany, represented by A. G. Whitney,
of St. Cloud, in February of this year
exercised their option procured last
fall to purchase the local power and
lighting plant from the Central Min
nesota Power and Milling Company.
The present contract with the Mil
ling Company for lighting expired
May 1, but by the terms of the con-
tract it was extended for one-year
period at the present rate.
The Council some weeks ago sub
mitted another five-year contract to
the Milling Company, and the COM
pany came back with counter prop
osition. Later still, another contract
was submitted with clause providing
that the Milling Company should not
transfer or sublet the contract to any
other Individual, corporation or COM
pany during the period of its duration.
Mr.. Merryman refused to sign this
contract, claiming that it was not
equitable. Later developments show
that it was impossible for him to do
so, because the property had previous
ly been sold to the St. Cloud company.
The City Council authorized the in
serting of the non-transferable clause
because they believed the best inter-
ests of the city would be served by
having the electricity manufactured in
Sank Centre. This is alright from the
City's view point, but as an individual,
the Herald editor does not believe that
he would have signed such a contract
had he been in Mr.. Merryman's place,
and the lighting plant had not been
previously sold. Something might de-
velop during the life of the contract
that would make it expedient and ne
cessary to dispose of the contract to
responsible party, but under it's pro-
visions no one else could assume it.
The Herald may be wrong, but that
provision strikes us as being some
what arbitrary.
The question now confronting the
city is that Mr.. Whitney and his COM
pany have arrived. The Central Min
nesota Power & Milling Company
have perpetual franchise. Just what
this franchise would be worth in a
court of the law the Herald does not
profess to know. 1t may be worth
less.
Sank Centre is strategic point for
the operations Of the Minnesota Pow
er and Light Company. They have
thousands of horse power which is not
being used. They undoubtedly expect
to extend their ramifcations in every
direction from Sank Centre. They al
ready have % towns and cities cou-
There is considerable sentiment in
favor of the City erecting a municipal
plant and have it ready by the date
of expiration of the present contract,
May 1, 1917. Frankly, the Herald
does not know whether it favors a
plant or not. There are a
of things to be taken into con-
sideration. First and foremost, the
City should satisfy itself that NUM-
cipally operated plant will pay. 1t is
claimed in number of cities that
they do pay. In most instances, they
are coupled up with water power sys-
TENS and it is safe to say that the
themselves, in many in
stances, do not really know whether
the lighting plant is paying its way
or not. By paying it should care for
all of the necessary fixed charges, de-
probation, up-keep, and interest on
investment.
Before taking any serious step in
the direction of erecting municipal
plant, the Council will, no doubt, in
vestigate the question from every an
gle. To do this will require some out
lay. Before the Herald would favor
the erection of a municipal plant we
would want to have some of the So
called successful plants thoroughly in
vestigated by competent, honest and
disinterested expert-have him go to
the very heart of the matter. If his
reports show that they can be and are
operated at profit with reasonable
charge for efficient service, the city
would be justified in thoroughly inves-
tigating the cost of installation of a
plant of sufficient size to care for the
needs of Sank Centre, not only for the
present but for the future.
If, after investigation, the City finds
municipal plants do really pay, the
bond question will be another serious
problem to consider. 1t is a we'll
known fact that the question of taxes
is a very tender spot with most cit
liens. Sank Centre School district al
ready has very snug bonded indebt-