Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1917-09-14
WHY HE HAS FAVORED THE
PURCHASE OF ELECTRIC
PLANT BY THE
CITY
DECISIVE ACTION ON TUESDAY
New is Time to Decide Before Big
Falls PoWe Dam is Constructed
Position tof Opponents

Next Tuesday the common council
of the city of Ladysmith will meet
to determine whether there shall be
held special election On the ques-
ton of purchasing the Ladysmith
Lighting Company's plant as set
forth in full detail in the News-Bud-
get last week.
Few issues have caused more dis
cussion than this, particularly among
business men. Mayor Thompson
came home Monday from Waukesha
and will be present at the meeting.
To News-Budget reporter the
mayor gave his views on the situa-
ton.
Il am informed he said, "that Mr.
Myers, the head of the Myers Com.
pany will be here before Tuesday
and wants to discuss the question
of taking over the lighting plant
before We act then. My reasons
for supporting the resolution are
plain. We need here in Ladysmith,
with great water powers right at our
doors, increased electrical energy sc
that we may go out and offer to
manufactures the advantage OF
cheap power. We want this before
the Big Falls dam is built if it
ever is to be, for We would have to
buy the power property under the
state law, if we took over the light
ing plant. Therefore if we are ever
going to acquire the plant now is
the time. Arpin offers to build a
dam for hydro electric power which
would make it possible for us to
sell current to manufacturing plants
at a low price. There are other
dams, too, which will furnish pow
er for current to keep up with the
growth of the city in population and
industry.
"Now Is the time to decide the
question. The lowering Of the
schedule of rates proposed by the
lighting company did not help the
small consumer; only the big one.
If We We're assured that the Big
Fails power project would be com
pleted in two years, and that a
schedule of rates for both light and
and power be established as low as
the city could furnish it, l might
be convinced that it is best to let
the situation remain.
''The people will vote on the ques
ton as to whether We may or not
buy the plant There is nothing
mandatory about it and even after
the vote favorable to a purchase by
the city, it might turn out that the
privately owned plant were best to
continue"
The opponents of the plan cite
1.-THE necessity of great expenditure
to put the plant in condition to fur,
nish power to any considerable in
crease in manufacturing industries
the cost of operation, a bond issue
added to the city's debt now, the
inadequacy of present power ar
rangements and the fact that the
lighting company is already max
ling great improvements.
AS to- what the city would have
to pay Is variously estimated The
property was appraised year ago
at $4,000. 1t was sold for SAL 900
With say $4,000 of improvements
the present appraisement would
reach $4,000 and the cost to the
owners $51 ,00O
| 1t costs the city little in ex-
cess of $4,000 a year for current and
| lights. Of this the water works bill
| is $1OO a month, and the remainder
for street lights and the lights for
the city hall. The library bill runs
about $50 year. The August bill
was $42S.57 of which $40, was fol
wiring and materials for the new
street signs.
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