Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-09-05
COUNCIL HAS LONG, STORMY MEET
But REACHES NO AGREEMENT ON
PROPOSE OF POWER COMPANY

Five o. OF a~rgumentgand discus
sion failed to bring definite action on
proposal to supply the municipality
with power and light or to definitely
nix the salaries OF city employees, and
the Grand Forks council adjourned
shortly after / o'clock this morning
until September IA.
After arguments, lasting over three
hours. City Attorney George A. Bangs
was instructed to draw up a contract
to be presented for the acceptance or
rejection of the Northern States Pow
er company proposal to furnish cleo
tricity for the operation of the NUM-
lcipa1ity jumping and lighting plant, to
be acted upon at the next session of
the aldermen to be held September I12.
j.. q. Donald Presents Proposition.
With large delegation OF prom4
tnent business men and tax payers
present, the discussion lof the power
company proposal was brought to the
%attention Of the council by Alderman
Sanders, acting in the absence of
Chairman J.. d. Turner Of the special
committee.
j.. g. Donald, representative Of the
Northern States Power company was
called upon to again present the prop
osftfon in brief. Mr.. Donald pointed
out the purpose for which his com
pany had made the proposal and
stated that h matter has been un-
With a plant that lis taxed, only 20
per ent or less Of Its capacity, the
poWerecompany contends that the fur
nishing Of electrical supply to the city
of Grand Forks will mean greater
economy to the consumer and pro-
ducer.
Taxpayer Makes Objections.
Supported in his claims BY Dean
Calvin c. Crouch OF the University of
North Dakota, official representative
OF the city in estimating the cost of
operation under the steam and cleo
t,ical system, Mr.. Donald carefully ex-
planned the various statistics sub
stantiating his claims. Before he had
completed his remarks, George Z. Co
ger, who was among the local tax
payers In attendance at the meeting,
interrupted to. make objections to the
proposals, maintaining that the power
company officials were endeayoring Is
take advantage Of the city during the
present high prices OF materials and
that the city plant, in which he and
every tax payer was interested, was
adequate to supply the future needs Of
this city:
Mr.. Coger asserted that the report
MED with the council vas false and
that he would be ashamed to have his
affixed to any such docu-
ment NJ. Norman, proprietor Of the
Norman Furniture store, was Lext to
take the fioor and. expressed his con-
fidence in fhee proposals and the econ
omtc measures shown by the report.
put suggested that the matter should
be submitted to the Iallot.
MY Continues to Own Machinery.
Mr: Coger repeatedly Interrupted
,and apparently labored under the be-
lief that 1.-The power company vas at
tempting to take over complete con-
troll OF the city pumping and lighting
plant. Officials explained that such
was not the case, and that the city
would continue to own the machinery.
the plant and all accessories. merely
substituting electricity for steam and
eliminating the necessity Of purchas-
ing huge quantities OF coal, affecting
saving estimated at approximately
$4,000 a year.
Stinson. Fayors Proposal.
Leslie Stinson was the first TAXPAYER
to take a firm stand in favor or the
power company's proposal. He de-
c1ared that the matter before the
council was strictly a !, business propo-
sition and that the power company
should be engaged to furnish the
power IL they could do 1t cheaper. AS
taxpayer. he said, he believed that