The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-04-18


city.
Al tpvolved..
If any misfortune should destroy the
lighting plant the whole debt would
rest upon the water plant, or should
misfortune .overtake the water plant
the whole debt would rest upon the
lighting system. There is no way TO
now divide or apportion the indebted
ness to the different parts Of the
property without the consent of the
bondholders and the trustees. An APP
praisal of the property would give an
approximate valuation of the part used
in the different departments, but would
be no aid in releasing the same from
the incumbrance upon 1t.
There are many considerations to
be taken into account in connection
with any proposal upon the part of the
| city to purchase the water plant.
In 1909 at the time when franchise
for a street railway was submitted to
the voters, there was granted unto the
Missoula Light and Water company
and an extension OF it's light franchise
for a period of 40 years, it was well
rnderst God by the voters OF MiasOula,
that the light franchise carried with
I it the water franchise, which was at
that time considered to be a perpetual
one. In pursuance to the will OF the
people of Missoula and the extension
of the franchise and the granting of
q franchise for the street railway in
this city, the street railway was built
and has ever since been operated
expenditures of money have been made
IN building the street railway as we'll
as in improvements. Extensions both
of the water plant and the lighting
system have been made.
The plans made 70 rthe future OF
the company have been so made with
the idea that the money expended
, should become permanent investments
for the benefit, not only Of the city
but for the persons who made the ex.
> penditures of money. The street rail.
way has been operated for the people
at a tremendous loss, and 4 large par
of the cost Of improving the streets O
r the city has been borne by that com
= pany in accordance with the terms O
its franchises.
l While the city has called for the in
stallation OF n large number of lamp
for street lighting purposes, it ha
2 from time to time discontinued tn
| use Of lights on demand that the ligh
e be furnished free OF cost, and larg
g quantities Of water have been fur
= nished for various city purposes with
!. out any charge being made therefor
0 1t other words. both the light and wa
e ter plants have been run with tn
I idea of imposing as small a hurdel
;. upon the taxpayers as was consisten
e with economic management and a fai
t return upon the money invested.
A Sacrifice.
When it was brought to the atten
ton of the city council that some step
must be taken to lessen the expense
| of the city and a committee OF 10 wa
j, appointed to consider the question, tn
q one institution in Missoula that wa
q called upon to sacrifice any part c
it's revenue was the Missoula Light an
Water company. BY an agreemen
then entered into and which continue
in force for two and a half years, tn
amount paid by the city for light an
- water was reduced $1,SO0.OO per yea
:, and the same services were continue
, during all of that time. All of thi
:, was done Notwithstanding the fact tina
=, the company held a written contrae
= light and water used and so furnishe
at rates which had been theretofor
agreed upon.
,I In addition to the foregoing. til
:. MIGRANTS which were then owned
the city were purchased by the waite
>, company and payments made thereto
thus relieving the city of a consider
= able burden. The same situation {
affairs existed with reference to tn
lighting of Higgins avenue. Instea
of asking the city to erect poles or t
d share any of the cost of installing tn
e lighting system, this burden was as
l. sumed jointly by the street car com
| puHy diO TIC Ai6il SdIIu WdlcI COuipuu
% 50 that it will be seen that much {
d the financial burden Of the city ha
;" been borne by the Missoula Light an
d Water company. To now demand TIL;
pricesbe put upon the water plaI
& seems, to the stockholders, an I'm rea
le sonable one.
j. II a sale Is made Of a part Of II
S. plant, the burden of conducting Il
s. remaining part of the business will /
j. only slightly decreased, while the CO.
10 OF conducting the business Of tt
,e water plant by the city would
l. largely increased with no correspond
t. irg benefit to the water con sumer
J. The rate for light has been adjustt
downward for the benefit OF the Gil
Id and individual consumers so that !
,e unreasonable or excessive profit wi
10 be made either from the light or wat
,e department. II Il part OF the bushes
t. is taken away from the company
4. readjustment OF the light rates W
have to he made in order IN ipsuro