The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1916-06-22
To the Citizens and taxpayers of the
City of Sank Centre

are not obliged to take care of too much addi-
tlonal work this year. We expect to make quite
a number of improvements in the plant and
also to put some thirty thousand or forty thous-
and dollars into water main extensions during
the next IL months. If we do, it may possibly
defer our reducing the rate for year or two.
1t there is any particular information can
give you relative to our experience in operating
municipal plant will be glad to write you
further.
Yours truly,
E. J. BESTICK, City Clerk
The Committee can give you many such letters.
The committee visiting Esthervle, Iowa, found
modern plant furnishing light and power to it's
citizens in a very satisfactory manner The plant
is owned by the people. 1t has been improved and
is adequate to meet all demands. The power house,
lines, poles, generators, water tank, water mains,
pumping engines and white way all up to date
and give the city metropolitan aspect. The plant
being owned by the people and not controlled by any
corporation, they have made such improvements
suited to their needs, comfort and convenience The
lines are we'll extended to the outskirts of the city
and people living in these sections receiving
plenty OF light to which they are entitled as tax
payers. The plant is taking of it's bonds and
the taxpayers have never been taxed to pay them
The rate is II cents kilowatt hour, less dis
count OF ten per cent paid before the 25th of
the month, making it 10 cents per K. w. H. The
minimum rate is 80 cents per month. sliding scale
is used for power, bringing it down to to cents
per K. w. H. for large consumers.
The plant extended it's lines and mains last year
at a cost of SS,9OO.OO which paid out of the
plant and still left the neat profit to the taxpayers
of $12,O00.O0. The committees have given this mat
ter great deal of thought and study having viewed
it from all angles, made personal visits and CORES
ponded with many and have letters from persons in
authority which convince them that the interests of
the citizens and taxpayers of the City Of Sank Cen
tire demand that they have Municipal Plant and
that they entitled to the profits accrued there
from.
Respectfully submitted,
e, H. F. HENNEMANN,
'%4s GEORGE O'GARA,
Committee on Esthervile, a., Investigation.
u~asS4s 4za Ap-~~~,x ssr
The committee named by your City Council and
Commercial Club to investigate conditions in con-
nection with the municipality owned and operated
light and water plants at Thief River Falls, Mimi,
are pleased to advise that this city has installed
plant for that purpose, costing in ALL $12300O.)0,
and consisting of substantial power house, along
with apartments for the housing of all equipment
pertaining to the fire department and horses as we'll
quarters for the attendants also stand pipe. All
machinery, including two Disse engines, along with
much other machinery in connection with the plant,
and all water mains and connections, and also all
public lights, poles and wiring. The plant
trely completed in the year 1912, though part of
the power has been purchased from water power
plant then in the city at lower cost than could be
obtained by of fuel entirely.
This municipal plant has furnished all water and
all light for city without any charge whatever and
at commercial rate to patrons of ITO cents per
K w. for light and $40 per K. w. minimum for
power and regular rates for power, and regular
meter rates for water, and while doing so has ac-
cumulated and paid off amount to take of all
this $123OOO.0O, except remaining $4,000.
The free light furnished the city included 200 arc
lights of 100 K. w. each, as well as " white way
posts with five lights each and rate of 4 cents
per K. w. for all lights furnished in public buildings
Since the above results as shown are little bet
ter than would have been in of oil fuel used
and might be confusing, are giving, following
report of thirty-day test taken from the rec
ords for the month of April 1916, and which is an
average month run as is being made regularly since
they have been manufacturing all of their own pow
and should be sufficient to convince any, of the
merits of the Municipal Ownership as applied to
Lights and Water in city Of this size:
Gross Receipts for month were S2833. 90
Operating Expense
Salaries paid and extra labor 1888 90
Fuel oil at 5-10c per gal. -. 100
Lubrcatlng oil ............. 5000
Depreciation and incidentals 100. 90
Total cost of operating $3.50. S1O72 90
Net profit for City .................$1 761 Go
N. B-Note price of fuel oil at 6 $40 cents is very
high, but it being the price paid at that tme it
must be used.
D00 G,11xx ,,l~>slL zJ