The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1919-05-12

the present plant. Shall we bear
such expense, especially at this time?
Again, the city would be Obliged to
maintain u present plant against
an emergency. This would require
two men on duty, each working a
twelve-hour shift. Only capable and
experienced men would do-men able
to start and operate our big. Diesel
engine for power pumping in case of
a breakdown. That service is posi-
lively necessary for fire protection.
Their pay would be at least $3.50 to
SITS per month. These salaries,
plus the cost of line erection from
sub-station to the plant, must be
added to the price of current offered
by the Northern States company.
You citizens must ever keep before
you the fact that that company wants
to enter into a contract with our city
for a period Of fifteen TO twenty years
when everything is at the peak in the
way of prices. You will take note
that in all the claims for outside cur.
rent there has been no mention made,
OF the cost of a sub-station. or of a
line from the city limits to the pres
ent plant.
IL Madison was the size OF Howard,
Oldham or Cotton, or any place up to
2,5O0 population, the Northern
States Power proposition might have
some reason for hope, but this city
can make her own juice and main
tain her own plant at just as small
a cost and just as big a saving as
an outside corporation can furnish il
under any conditions. Had we but
an additional $50 horsepower engine
to carry the light load. the cost of
production would be cut consider
ably, but yer under present condi-
tons, the municipal plant has paid 4
good profit in the last two months.
No credit at all is given the plant
for the $4,000 worth of free light
that is used in streets, alleys and
other places. What the plant has
done at earning and is GOV doing
should influence your vote in its
favor.
A goodly number of our citizens
have already given out the word that
they would be willing to pay a little
more for juice if ii meant that a
municipality owned plant was to fur
nish it. Do you want to tie up With
a company that maintained fifty-twn
different rates in Sioux Falls? Such
a company is not above suspicion and
to do business with n corporation
that will soak il to a city because it
has the chance? Let's be fair to our
selves and our city's interests and
cut out the Northern States Power
company by voting for the bonds.
We have part of a very seryiceable
plant now. 1t is worth a whole LOT
of money. Let us vote TO complete
it and then see that il is properly
managed SO that it will in the future
redeem the bonds that cover all con-
Meeting expenses and become a pos
tive earning factor in our midst.
Such a plant will be a good adver-
'tisement for our progressive spirit.
AS the city grows and the plant
expands to meet new demands more
and more labor will be employed and
we are sure than in any city the OPP
portunity offered for labor is a mat
ter of most vital importance to every
worker, especially to those who must
be bread-winners, therefore we feel
safely certain that every laboring
man in Madison, every railroad man,
every auto repairer, every painter,
every teamster, every day wage earn
err, will go to his ward tomorrow and
will, without %hesitancy, cast a decid-
ing vote for a municipality owned
plant. Vote YES for a bond issue.
By all means do so.
And there is the vote of the women.
Indications several days ago pointed