Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-09-11
CLUB MEETING
IS IMPORTANT
TO TAXPAYERS
Power Co. Proposal to be
Discussed-W Washington
Committee to Report.

Whens8the members of the Grand
Forks Commercial club gather this
evening to discuss the proposal of
the Northern States Power company
to furnish electricity for the operation
of the city pumping and lighting
plant, J.. Nelson Kelly, O. j. Barnes
and j. .. Bacon, who recently jour
neyed to Washington to confer with
the Federal Food Control board and
offer objections to the contemplated
reduction of wheat prices. will make
their official report.
The three Representatives will tell
of their visit. in Washington and Of
their interviews with board members
and they promise to. place consider
able light on the attitude of the Off
cials, relative to price fixing. Since
the return OF the Grand Forks men,
a large number have been awaiting
the official report. and it is expected
that many will be interested in the
matter. ~
The power company proposal will
also receive considerable attention
from club members and every man in
attendance will be given an opportun-
ity to- air his views. The proposition
is an important one to the city OF
Grand Forks and it is the purpose Of
the clubftos thresh the matter out and
either endorse the contracts or ask
the city council to reject the propo-
sition.
Indications are that there are a
large number who oppose the accept
ance of h contract and for this rea-
son, the final investigation will be
tail will be taken UP and addresses
will be made by prominent men who
have had experience with power is
sues in business life.
tToo Much Politics."
When referring to the proposal
made to the city, W. H. Brown, gen.
eral manager of the Red River Power
company said his morning:
I'VE do not wish to force our serv-
ices on to the residents of Grand
Forks. but we believe that we have
shownw where we can save the munich
pality at least $ $1,000 a year. If that
is not attractive to them, we are will
ing to let the matter drop. We even
may not wait for the council to take
action on this proposal as we are lust
as liable to withdraw beforehand as
they are to reject it. 1t appears that
this contract is being made a political
issue and WI will not play politics for
a minute. There is nothing under
cover on our part and every state
ment we have made or any action we
have taken is above board.
!"The city now has the exact esti-
mates and reports of Dean Calvin G.
Crouch Of the university, who repre-
scented h city, and in making our
proposal, we abided by his figures.
The entire proposition is open to in
spection at any time"
Among the arguments that have
been offered by the opposition faction
is that the power company is making
an attempt to. gain complete control
of the municipality plant. The con-
tract which would be signed by the
city. if the proposal would be accept
ed, makes no such provision and
states emphatically that the plant
would still remain entirely in posses
sion OF the city and only the electrici-
ty which operated the machinery
would be purchased.
No Doubt About Economy.
There is no argument in regard to
the saving to the city. In every way
that the proposition is estimated
with consideration given to conditions
in normal periods. a saving would
still result
Attorneys have examined the con.
tracts and have discovered no catch
whereby the city would be obligated
to the power company. The contrac'
can be nulliied within a years time il
at any time the proposition proves I'm.
satisfactory.
Public sentiment will practically
decide the matter and the council so