The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1916-06-22
FELLOW CITIZENS:

alone! Ihat we nave pald them In the past five
years $26,37O.50 for current? That we have paid
them the past ten years $40 29881 and that it is
increasing every year? You understand these
payments are for Street Lights and Power for
pumping and lights for City Hall and Pump House
ONLY. These payments, as can be estimat-
ed are one-third of the total paid into the Milling
Company for electric current. In other words the
total payments for Electric Current in this City for
the past ten years is between $145000OO and $780,
100000.
This city has been tied up to electric light fran
chises since 1888 "a period of 26 years. Do you
want to continue it?
You will remember last fall the St. Cloud Light &
Power Company of which Mr. Whitney is the head,
appeared before the Commercial Club Of this city
and asked for 25-year franchise, at an advanced
rate of IL cents per hlowatt, with discount of 1
cent if paid before the 10th of the month,
which would make it II cents (if we did not forget
to walk up to his office) where now paying
10 cents for the current
The Commercial Club appointed committee to
act with committee from the City Council to nves-
tigate Electric Light Plants and the cost of manu-
featuring current. This committee made some in
vestigatons and reported back to the Commercial
Club and the Club unanimously voted not to accept
the st. Cloud corporations proposition but did
ommend that the Council contract with Mr. Merry
of the Milling Company for another five years.
This brought about, not from financial advant-
age to the City, but out of loyalty to the Milling
Company. This city has always been loyal to this
Milling Company, and whenever Municipal owner
ship was mentioned the Citizens would invariably
say: "Do nothing to harm our MILL the only manu-
featuring plant we have" and new contract would
be entered into with the Milling Company.
After the action of the Commercial Club, above
referred to, Mr. Merryman appeared before the
Council and asked for another five-year contract,
and, the Council, acting on the advice of the Com
mercia Club agreed to make contract with
the Milling Company. But no sooner were details
discussed, than Mr.. Merryman asked for
assignable contract, and the council said NO. That
If contract, at the old rate made, it must be
with local company-the City would not stand for
those prices to outside corporation and the result
is that the City made contract but insisted upon
the extension privilege in the old contract and ex-
tended it to May LIST, 1917, and there the matter
rests.
These committees have continued their investi-
cations of Light and Power plants with the result
that they haven't found Municipal failure up to
date On the contrary every plant visited or heard
from is well satisfied with their Municipal plants and
are making good money.
The following letter from the City Clerk of De-
troit, Minn is sample of what the City is getting
along the line of investigation by correspondence.
And the statement referred to bears out the facts
stated in this letter, which is follows:
CITY OF DETROIT
Becker County, Minnesota
Detroit, Minnesota, June 3, 1916.
Mr.. J. F. Cooper, Sank Centre, Mimi.
Dear Sir:
Replying to yours of June End hand you
herewith financial statement of our City for
the year ending February LIST, 1916. Our state
ment shows net earning for the year trifle
over $11,0OO.OO.
Our light rates at present are as follows:
First 200 K. W.....8 cents
!, Next 100 K. w.t. cents
F., Next 100 K. w. -. 6 cents
All over 400 K. w. -. cents
Our power rates are 71A cents per K. w.
Tor the first 81 hours per H. p, thereafter the
rate drops to 212 cents per K. w.
Our plant, as it stands today cost us
approximately $4,000; this includes our water
works system and heating mains. We do great
deal OF heating and have hand at the present
time $4,000 feet of radiation We have steam
. power and pay $500 for lump coal laid down in
the bin.
/ We feel that our plant has been very sue
cessfu. 1t is operated by commission of
/ three men, appointed by the district court as
/ provided for in our home rule charter. We have
been fortunate in having good capable men on
the commission who have made the plant
great success for our city,
All water extensions have been paid for out
OF the earnings of our plant and our white way
system was installed by the same method Our
bonded Indebtedness at present, on account of
water and light extensions, is $4,000 be-
heve we have one of the best rates in the state
and know we can still make better rate if we
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