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

not, we must keep our own plant
ready for use simply as a matter of
fire protection, If for no other pur-
pose.
That as long as we are pumping
our w city water, we must have a
fire-proof building and at least three
competent engineers to work in
shifts of eight hours each.
That ii would be the height of
folly, extravaganza and waste to
keep a complete plant and still take
our juice from Sioux Falls where it
can be manufactured no cheaper.
Also keep in mind that there is no
provision in the contract forbidding
the Northern States company from
supplying all the residences imme-
diately surrounding our city with
current.
That when we undertake to incor-
porate these residences into our own
city we shall have the Northern
Power company within u city with
its vested rights. How does it appeal
to you?
You are further to keep in mind:
That in the fall of 1918, this very
same Northern States Power COM
pany raised its rates in Sioux Falls
to 13 cents per kilowatt hour, and
as soon as Sioux Falls voted bonds
for a municipal plant. the same COM
pany cut its rate to Z cents.
That when our own plant burned
last summer, this very same COM
pany tried to get us by the throat
and to bold us up for 5.55 cents per
kilowatt hour, and we build our own
line to Humboldt at a cost of from
$40 900 to $4,000. AS soon as We
voted municipal bonds, this benevo-
lent corporation offered to furnish
the current for 3 cents and they
build their own line. Does this give
the impression that we are dealing
with a straight business concern?
AS no penalty is provided for in
terrupted service, nor for falling to
deliver the maximum service our
city may require, what is there to
stand In the way of this corporation
to demoralize our service to such an
extent as to force us into their keep
ing for all time to come? And would
you trust them?
This same corporation has now its
agent on the ground to conduct the
campaign in a matter which should
be left to the people of our city alone
to decide. For the first time in the
history of our city, the corporate
stock OF this corporation is men,
toned to be for sale to u citizens.
VIII any one tell us what can be the
purpose of this? Is this only a bait.
or has it even a deeper significance?
And this is a corporation we are
asked to sell ourselves to for a pc
riod OF fifteen long years - left to
us, perhaps, the privilege of squea,-
ing. but we could not wiggle.
The most amazing part of the
whole performance is to have two OF
our w city commissioners, i'm q
signed statement, admit that some
$4,000 OF our city funds have been
wasted for junk by our city commits
sion, and nov they are pleading their
own incompetency as an argument ol
disseminating our municipal plant
These two gentlemen constitute the
majority of our city commission. II
any city funds have been wasted ol
foolishly spent, they and no one else
are responsible. If these gentlemen
consider themselvs unfit to perform
the duties of their office, why in tn,
world do they not get out and LEI
somenone who Is willing and able Il
do the work required of them, tax,
their place?
The Missouri river project ha,
been repeatedly held out as an argu
ment against rebuilding our plant
Do not deceive yourselves on a prop
osition of this kind. Our constitu
tion limits Indebtedness for interna
improvements to half of one per cen
OF the assessed valuation, which a
present would amount to about eigh
million dollars. The building of tn,
Missouri river dam, at the loves
estimate by any engineer submitte'
before the war, is eighteen milliol
dollars. But ven though the Mis-
souri, river project were feasible, w
would still have to maintain u owl
plant as an emergency plant. AM
the fifteen year contract with tn
Northern States Power compan,
would not hasten the matter any.
In conclusion let me state that
have interviewed Mr. Kundert an
Mr.. Blagen in reference to the con
illusions they came to after inspect
ing the conditions in cities wher
current is furnished by the Northerl
States Power company, and both ar
emphatically in favor of voting tn