New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1919-10-22
No DECISION YET
IN POWER PROBLEM
CITY COUNCIL NOT IN FAVOR
OF BUYING FROM POWER
COMPANY.
EXPERT TO ADVISE CITY AS
TO BUILDING ADDITION
TO LOCAL PLANT.

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Although the much discussed question
of how to provide additional electric
power fer use by local consumers has
not been decided upon by the city faith
ers it nay be stated with reasonable
certainty that the City will not enter
into a contract with the Northern States
Power Company. The City Council
rather seems to be inclined to enlarge
the local municipal plant and remain
independent from any outside concern.
This may be said to be impression gained
at the last special meeting by the coun-
Gil, last Thursday evening. The same.
question was discussed at a previous
meeting held Tuesday, October Ia, when
Chas. w Loring, of the Northern States
Power Company of Minneapolis appear
ed before the city fathers and read a
sample contract his company proposes
to close with the City explaining dubious
points and answering questions. Having
received this information the council
members went into an executive session
that same evening without, however,
reaching a decision
Expert In The City.
At the meeting, on Thursday, it was
decided to ask j. G. Robertson of St.
Paul, expert on installation of NUM-
cipal plants, both electric and water,
to come to New Ulm and advise the
council as to the building Of an addition
to the local municipal plant to increase
its capacity according to the growing
needs. Mr.. Robertson was invited to
appear before the Council last night,
Tuesday, October 81.
Superintendent A. j. Mueller ex-
planned that, with the addition of new
unit, consisting Of a boiler, a $50 horse
power engine and dynamo, the cost Of
production Of electric current atthe
plant will be reduced considerably.
The price per kilowatt hour would be
about two cents, he stated, while the
rate submitted by the Northern States
Power Company was nearly three cents,
according to the contract read by Mr..
Loring. Besides, there would be GER
tain conditions, under the contract,
which would make the rate still higher.
| More Heat Wanted.
There is still one more consideration
which carries some weight in regard to
this proposition. And that is the OPP
Grafton of the municipal heating system.
in connection with the light and water
plant. 1t was pointed out that even
now there is a demand for an extension
of this heating system. And this demand
will grow as time goes on. By adding
new unit to the plant it will be made
possible to extend the heating system
considerably and this will furnish an.
added revenue to the city, in the future.
The cost Of the new addition to the
plant would be about $40, 900 or $50 1000,
according to rough estimate. If it
is built the City will be in a position
to furnish all the necessary current in
Guiding the needs Of the stone quarries
and other new industries that might.
come to city. The possibilities for the
expansion Of the system are indicated
by the inquiry made by some represen-
tative from Courtland whether it would
be possible for their village to get their
Juice" from the city Of New Um The
question was brought up at the meet
ing last week Tuesday no decision being
taken, however. The gentlemen from
CORTLAND were told that the village
would have to pay the expenses for the
establishing Of the lines which would be
in the neighborhood Of $4,000, accord
ing to rough estimate made BY Mr..
Loring.