Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-12-17
EXTRA MEETING I.
OF C0UNCl TO !.
BE III TONIGHT II
Matters Of Vast Importance
to City Will Come Be-
fore Aldermen.
PAGE TWENTY

"A SpeClar meeting OF the city COun-
Gil VIII be held this evening at half
: past seven o'clock. according to a call
sent out to the aldermen this morn
ing. One of the chief matters which
wall come before the council, is the
decision of the Red River Power COM
pany to raise its rates to OF
gas and electricity. 1t is understood
that MayorAJ. A. Dinnie has prepared
a message upon this subject, ana that
the aldermen will be asked to discuss
whether orss;not such a raise is justi-
liable. ~
Another matter which will he on
sidered is $the request from the gov
eminent through its state and local
fuel administration relative to theScut-
ting down of street lighting service
two or more nights a week, and the
matter will also be considered in its
relation to the contracts which exist
between the Red River Power COM
pany and the city for municipal light
ing. 8
The aldermanic telephone commit
tee will submit Il report to the coun-
Gil, and it is expected that some
definite action will be taken in regard
to the contemplated physical connec-
ton between the exchanges of the To-
Cal branches OF the Northwestern n
the Tri-State telephone companies.
Finally. the meeting is called for
the purpose giving ordinance No. 1888.
regulating the erection and maintain
ing of advertising signs, a second
reading.
Rates Soar January First. =
The Red River Power company has
served notice Upon its patrons, in
Guiding the city. that it finds itself
compelled to add a surcharge OF ten
rA~ onrt m tic y,onNth1r hills the
company claims that its expenditures
have increased so considerably that it
must reimburse itself i'll the manner
indicated. For instance. it is claimed
tina the increase in coal prices az
gregates 1875 per cent; in electric
equipment and supplies. 35 per cent;
meters. motors and transformers, ~
per cent etc.
1t is understood that most of the
aldermen are averse to admit the
claims of the company, and that a
spirited discussion may take place
tonight in view of the fact that ONE
representatives of the firm are eX-
pected to be present to explain fur
ther why the %surcharge is deemed
necessary.
Future Street Lighting.
r. B. Griffith, chairman Of the
{ Grand Forks and Nelson counties
fuel administration, appointed by
State Fuel Administrator Isaac F.
Baker. will probably present a COM
m%unication to the council indicating
to what extent the city can cooperate
with the government in carrying out
the instructions in regard to the saw
ing of light and fuel as used for street
lighting purposes. AS orders in this
matter appear to be very exlicit, 1t Is
not expected that much discussion
will ensue. except as to the details OF
! the arrangement but it is probable,
may go a step further than asked. and
y order tina only one of five lamps on
each ornamental post be kept burning
in the evenings after January l.
No Agreement Reached.
The committee appointed by the
mayor to consider the matter of ply
steal connection of the, Northwestern
!, and Tri-State Telephone exchanges
will submit a brief report at the meet
ing tonight. This afternoon the COM
mittee, of which Alderman w. 8.
Whitman is chairman, held a meeting
and discussed the situation as it ex-
lists now.
Since the report Of the committee
/. made to the city council two months
ago after its return from Owatonna,
Mimi. and other cities, every effort
has been made to hold a conference
with the representatives OF the North
western. company, but it has been i'm
possible to agree on a date mutually
!. satisfactory, and the company nov
announces that it desires an extension
until after the first of the year. The
city committee is not inclined to grant
!: that.
7 1t is probable that the committee
before the close Of its meeting late to-
day will nave considered the matter
of making demands upon both e
changes that physical connection be
Immediately effected. This demand is
deemed proper by the committee tc
! bed made the basis of fling COM
plants with the board of railroad
Il commissioners although the commit
tee still is hopeful that it will be pos.
sible TO reach some amicable agree