Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1916-04-21
rs LITTLE FALLS TO BE A POWER
STATION7

STATION?
The question is quite generally
heard: Is Little Falls to be a power
station, with little or no hope Of the
expansion of industries which its
splendid water power and its excel
lent location ought to assures The
water power company is reaching out
for business. It is furnishing current
for progressive towns around Little
Falls for miles in all directions. II
evidently has surplus Of power and
with the completion Of the present
and contemplated improvements will
have still more. No one can fairly
criticiso the compAny's attempts to
get more business. That is entirely
legitimate. It is, however, becoming
a question Of moment in the minds of
many citizens whether the owners of
the company are doing as much as
they might for this city. No one
questions the loyalty to the city of
the local manager of the company, or
doubts the great things Mr.. Gordon
would do for the city were he in alb
solute control Of the company. The
trouble is evidently not there. Many
citizens are afraid that the absentee
owners Of the company have but a
limited interest in the welfare Of the
city. OF course the city franchise is
valuable, but with the expansion out
side that would in time become buS an
incident in the company's business.
Then again, there has been at times
doubt whether the policy of tho com.
pany toward present and prospective
manufacturing enterprises was as
generous as it might have been. Per,
haps ne time has come to take stock,
TO learn if possible what the owners
OF the company have in mind and
whether they contemplate in the near
future anything which will help the
city industrially and commercially,
whether they intend to be decided
factors for future growth. We are
not unmindful that the policy pur-
sued by the present owners has been
in many ways far superior to the
previous owners. The company is not
in local politics and should not be.
For this thanks are largely due Mr..
Gordon, in our judgment. Familiar
with the history Of the company from
the beginning, he has been able to
steer the company away from pitfalls.
This is well, and it is appreciated. But
the manufacturing status is little diff
ferent from what it has been for
years. What is wrong? Take the
matter Of an electric line to the quar-
ries. That would mean an industrial
development Of the very greatest i'm.
portance. Has the company made in
recent years any attempt whatever to
contribute to the solution of this
problem! None Of which the public
know, and yet it is certain that there
would be cooperation by the people
in a matter which would mean SO
much to the future Of this city. Some.
time, we suppose, much as it will be
regretted, the sawmill will go. The
commercial and Industrial dislocation
will not be so severe if other indus
tries are developing. Would it not
seem that the men controlling the wa
ter power would realize that they
have some duty in the premises9 The
Herald has made no conclusions.
Farthest of all is tne creation of al
issue. We have no axe to grind. Ou1
interest. is the common interest of ev
cry citizen. We have great respec
for the men now in control of tn,
company, and believe that if they
realize how the people are becoming
anxious about the situation, they vii
be glad to meet in friendly conference
with them, and that something def
mite may result. The people hav, n
wish or desire to deprive the compan,
Of anything which legitimately be
longs to it. They believe, however
that they may possibly be entitled t
a larger knowledge Of thu company
views and aims than SO far has com
to them. '%t
The names of the deputy U. S. maj
shals have been announced, and w
are sorry to see that no Morriso
county man is on the list. It
known that there were several cand
dates. It is the old story.
If Rogers bucks the congressions
line as vigorously as he PLAYED un
,versity football, something will b
dping: Buckman, however, is som