Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1917-11-16

it cost to get a transmission line from
much will the current cost at whole
sale? What will be the overhead cost
on present conditions? How will the
money be raised to pay for it? Can
we sell bonds in this time of war?
What will we do if we clean the treas
ury and all of our resources are put
in the plant and some great emergency
should thereafter arise?
We know the rate for current now
is unsatisfactory and negotiable; that
it is apparently based on no clear bust
ness reason And the new schedule
seems to be as badly crimped in spots.
We would like to submit to the La
lysmith Lighting Company, if under
about the same conditions as exist
here, current is not being furnished in
| majority of cases. by both munich
lally and privately owned lighting
companies, at a maximum Of not to
exceed eight cents net per kilowatt
hour with a minimum charge to pri-
,ate consumers little fellOw-of
from 80 to so cents month and cur
rent to factories and larger users at as
low or lower than their proposed rate
of three cents net?
1t looks as though Mr.. Myers, of the
Ladysmith Lighting company, had
failed to grasp the local conditions.
Also that he did not seem to care so
very much whether the company kept
the plant or not. There was nothing
definite i'm his statement as to the COM
pletion of the Big Falls dam. No one
could hold an individual in court OF
law on such an indefinite promise.
We want better lights, more power.
and cheaper current; but we do not
want to place ourselves in the position
of saddling the city with burden OF
debt. going into a business in which
few are trained, with it's consequent
politics, to only finally find it is dis
aster and that we own a pile Of junk,
bought at war prices.
These and more are the questions
the people will have to decide at an
have or to fly to others we wot not
Of" 1t is matter for calm seri-
Gus judgment and no Mysteries. And
the imputation of any Interior motive
to the men, either official or private.
who are active in the matter, does not
help bring the question nearer sOlu-
ton.
What we want is a pair of mans size
brooches fer a mans size town. We
do not want Mr.. Myers or anybody
else to try and hand us kid clothes
The lighting company can end any
controversy by stating in English Ian
guage so we can understand down to
the last nickel how much they will
bank on this city. We do not want to
be hypnotized with technical vOcabu-
larry of electricity, watts, connected
loads and all that. What we want to
know is how much Mr.. Myers thinks
of the $4,000 he has invested in La
dySmith.
Then, more in sorrow than in anger
if he still persists in thinking we are
on the kerosene circuit, we will be
forced to appeal to the weapon of de-
tense which the statutes of the state
of Wisconsin have provided for our
use-municipal ownership.
We would also like to ask and have
answered by Mr.. Myers if it is not
true that his company right now, is
making around 10 per cent on basis
of $4,000?
Also if that is the case, why the city
would not be able to sell the plant in
five years with the way Ladysmith is
growing; for two or three times what
the Railroad Commission would fix as
it's value at this time?