The courier-index., 1918-01-11
MANAGER ELECTRIC
LIGHT PLANT QUITS
Z. M. HARRIS, WHO CAME HERE
FROM PIGGoTT SOME MONTHS
AGO, HANDS RESIGNATION TO
COMPANY.

{. NJ Harris, manager of the local
plant OF the Arkansas Light and
Power Company, has resigned his
position with the company, and stat.
ed yesterday he hoped to be relieved
from his duties by January Is. He
said he had made no definite plans
for the future, but felt confident his
family would remain in Mariana
until the close of school next May.
he is seriously considering the ad-
visibility of returning to his former
nome in Chicago, in view of the fact
that he expects to place his son in
a university in Chicago next year.
Mr.. Harris came to Mariana dur
ing the latter part of last summer,
from Piggott, where he had charge
OF the plant owned by the Arkansas
Light and Power Company. He sue
ceeded S. s. McGill as manager of
the plant here. Mr.. Harris has
worked hard to improve the service,
which has been very uncertain and
very unsatisfactory for more than
a year. Some Improvements have
been noted under his management.
but with poor equipment and with
foreign ownership that gives the
local manager very little latitude In
the matter of expending funds for
improvements he has been. so handi-
capped he could not build up the
service to high point of efficiency.
Recently the matter of better light
service has been before the city
council, with the result that at the
last meeting of the council the city
attorney was instructed to serve le-
gal notice on the head officials that
unless the service was put in good
shape within thirty days, steps would
be taken to revoke the franchise.
When seen yesterday by repre-
sentative of the Courier-Index Mr..
Harris said he had absolutely moth
ing to say with reference to his diff
ference with the company or in con-
nection with the character of service
the company has been giving. He
said that was a matter between the
officials of the company and the
citizens of Mariana. He also de-
clined to give his reasons for resign
ing, stating they were matters that
himself. He did state. however,.
he felt extremely grateful to the
members of the city administration
and to the citizens of Mariana gen.
orally for the spirit of fairness and
cooperation they had manifested to-
ward him, and for the many express
ions that have been made to the eff
feet that the poor service was not
due to any fault of his. He said he
regretted conditions were such he
could not see his way clear to re-
main in Mariana. He likes the city
and the people and If his business
were different he would
not leave here, but under the cir
cumstances he had no choice in the
matter
E. r. Reynolds, formerly manager
of the Paragould plant, recently pro-
noted to superintendent of plants,
arrived in Mariana yesterday to
take charge of the plant here until
the company secures a manager for
permanent installation here. j. s.
Mullins, one of the stockholders of
the Arkansas Light and Power Co.,
is also here checking up the books
in order that Mr.. Harris may be
given his release.
Mr.. Reynolds said yesterday he
would probably be here several
weeks. He will at once begin max
ing improvements on the plant and
hopes to have the system in good
condition by the time the
company places new manager here.