The Sun. [volume] (Price, Utah) 1915-1932, 1917-09-07

That u sun Open TO the Taxpayers
Heber city citizens some two weeks
ago voted by a large majority Tor the
sale Of it, municipality owned light
and power plant to the Utah Power
and Light company. which latter con-
Germ pays "a good price for tall II
II worth. II II said. and more too. The
money from the sale u 60 be spent In
improving the water system Of the
wasatch county scat Tho action Of
the residents az Heber city again re-
minds Tho sun that Price has IAN
elephant ON its hands" that people
here should be considering getting rid
OF or devise some means Of making II
come out even. A. things are now
going and have been going for months
the city n losing moncy-gobs Of it.
and no hope 81 breaking even ~ long
as not permitted by the public utiii.
ties commission In raising rates and
the high prices prevailing because OF
the war and other things. From coal
Co labor there has been steady in
crease all around In expenses every
month for more than a year.
Bonds 10 he Paid orr.
Some time ago J. ". Manson made
the city council proposition for
leasing the local plant for a term of
twenty five years. which many believe
H. worthy OF very serious conaidora.
ton for the reason that his paying off
Of the bonds issued g. install the syH-
TEN would relieve the city OF that OBJ
ngation. which IL almost equivalent
Co the purchase price Of the property
Then the city gets the plant back at
the end of the lease period. when II
would hc worth considerable moro
than now and also free from any OBJ
legation or Indebtedness. Under the
Manson proposition the city would
have ita street lighting without cost
~ well aH power for pumping city wa
ter 60 the reacrvolra The rcHponsi.
biiity ~ operation II entirely removed,
and also n guarantee in given for con.
tinuous service. maintenance ana de-
probation. No expense. whatever. IL
borne by the town. Manson would give
n fidelity bond for the fuifillment Of
his contract
Extensions Are Demanded.
The additional Inv stment ncccs.
sary to give residents and the bust
ness interests OF Price what they ought
Co have we are unable Co get under
the existing conditions Under the
Manson lease the improvements he
piedErH 60 make would be additional
security 10 the city. Numerous eli.
Hens have been for months and are ~
this time clamoring for line extensions |
that they may enjoy tie crnveniences |
of electricity the same as the rest Of
tho people locally. and whose prop |
erty IN liable FOR the bonded indcbt- |
cdncaH the same NJ the property 81 |
those who now enjoy these privileges. |
Again. these people are taN~d each |
year for the interest on the city's |
bonded Indebtedness and are without /
service. The lease az one time sub |
mltted by Manson provides that the /
extensions referred Co viii ho made |
The rates are 10 remain prncticali, /
the same during the twenty-five years /
lease AZ they are AT this time. regard
less of utility commissions OF anything 1
else.
u selling Nothing.
Dealing with Manson the city IL not |
dispoaing of its plant or franchise. but /
owns Il as now at an times. There II
no doubt but what considerable money
would be invested In Improving the
plant should II 40 Co Manson. az any
one taking II over under the terms
proposed would have To seek other
fields FOR additional revenue. which
would also mean considerable Tor this
city and It's people, Long before the
lease expires the bonds would be paid
Oft and a clean slate presented 60
them at the termination of the lease
period. Money received under the
Manson lease would 80 long ways
towards acquiring water system,
which should be uppermost ~ the
ambitions of the municipality. Ev-
erywhere In Utah municipality owned
light ana power plants are "a dead
horse" 90 taxpayers aud the conditions
at Price are no exception 20 this
general rule, The Price system Il los
Ing money every hour aud viii con
tinue Co do 80 until rates are raised
away beyond reason,
Others May Want Il.
In the vernacular of the day. Tho
sun isn't married" 60 Manson. hut
considers his proposition worthy ~
serious consideration because ~ the !.
fact that his life has been devoted o. +,
this kind Of work and he knows an
the ms ana outs of the electrical game
lie can make money whore the city A.,
cannot, else ne would not bid Tor the
plant on the other hand thore are
others In the business who might see !
It To 20 Manson some better. The
sun would like Co see tho city council d
consider the leasing az the power and q
light plant aud later put Il up 10 the
voters for action. II would at least G.
'etile' once for an, much mooted II
iueatlon. Many with whom The sun 81
ias talked are Tor leasing. Sentiment. 81
Is believed. Is against an outright u
ale even though "A price In excess of G.,
he plants real worth Were In sight. "a
Five applications have recently gone C.,
m file for water appropriations Ia M
'arbon county Three are by Watts IA
'oal cOmDany over near HfaWath, fo, O.,