The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1919-04-22
CITY Commission
ROUTINE BUSINESS AND DISCUS
SION OF ELECTRIC LIGHT
PROBLEM.

transact any necessary business lTdl
came up for consideration. All
members were present and took a
deep interest in the proceedings.
Lying on the table before them
were a number of copies of the city
code and ordinances that had just
left the hands of the printers. Com
mon interest led to an examination
of these bound volumes.
After the approval of the last min
utes the last reading of a resolu-
ton calling for a bond election on
May 13 met ready adoption on a roll
call vote.
A tentative ordinance prepared
and presented by Buehler & Wagner,
of the Dacotah Oil company, came
up for its first reading. The ordi-
nance seeks permission for further
improvements by the above named
company oil lot g.. EGan avenue N.
The intention is to secure better
driveway and pumping facilities on
the property that has recently come
into the full possession of this COM
pany, whose distribution and sale of
refined h~igh-grade oils is greatly on
the increase.
Charles Loring, representing the
Northern States Power company, ap-
peared before the commissioners,
reading and presenting a modified
contract that would cover agree
ments should the city fail in securing
a majority vote for the 800, 600 it
is proposed to spend on a new cleo
trio light plant. This contract set
forth the guarantees of the Northern
States Power company as to mini
mum cost of current, quality of light
and power to be supplied, protection
offered the city in case of dire emer-
gencies, saving to be effected, legal
rights of each party to the covenant.
plans of operation and upkeep and
the service in general that Madison
would receive. Mr.. Loring spoke at
length on the service his
was rendering many cities and towns
in this state and Minnesota and eX-
planned its plan of enduring line con-
struction, giving assurances that the
rate per kilowatt would never exceed
3 IA cents.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Loring's
talk Mr.. Henkin truly stated that
the situation here is peculiar; that a
bond election had been called, and
that ii was up to the individual citi-
zens what they wanted to do in the
way of securing light and power for
their city. Three hundred and seven
ty-six citizens have petitioned for a
bond election, demonstrating their
wishes for a municipality owned
plant, and not until the result of
that election is known will there be
any chance TO forecast the probable
success of the Northern States Power
company's proposition insofar as
Madison is concerned.
Mr.. Loring was of the opinion
that his company would not care to
contract for a term of service under
fifteen years; still it might.
A committee of business men and
perhaps n OF more of the city COM
missioners are soon TO set out on a
trip Of investigation and return with
a report of places visited, means of
receiving light and power supply,
cost of current. upkeep, etc, kind OF
service received, saving effected. sat
isfaction given, and so on They will
visit cities the Northern States Pow
er company WHOLESALERS current to.
also places where steam and Diesel
engine systems are used for produc-
tion.
The light and power question has,
until recently, been a most perpley-
ing n in this city ever since the fire
in August, 1918.
Just now our part of a plant is
working well, and has been for a
number of weeks. with possibly n
or two exceptions. There is one thing
absolutely certain, and that is if two
smaller units be added to our present
equipment, and the whole be housed
over substantially, We shall not need
to limp along, but rather such a plant
would easily meet our present and
future needs until such time as a
hydro-generating site be developed
along the Missouri river. The people
OF this city are more than likely to
carry the bond election by a big ma
Jority and follow up with the erec-
ton of a municipality owned and con
trolled electric light and power plant,
thus cutting out dependence on IN
outside corporation.