The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1919-04-14

We had $4,000 in the electric
ance, sold some junk, received taxes
and light tolls to the above amount
and it is all gone, and the engine
and dynamo at the normal, which it
is understood the mayor bought for
$500 and is not yet paid for. We
feel that it is time to call a halt on
free and easy expenditures and in
yestigate before contracting any
more debts for the city.
For several weeks we have urged
and argued with the mayor for the
appointment of a committee, to in
clude the commission, mayor and
four citizens, to visit other towns TO
find out what other places have done
and determine on the best plant to
put in.
Last Monday night the issue was
forced and the mayor reluctantly put
the question to a vote after an eX-
tended argument. We have selected
two men, Carl Stensland and +. j..
Mundt, and the mayor agreed to Sc
lect two more. Had he done so the
committee could have made it's in
ve~stigation and reported tonight.
Why refuse to investigate? Our
sole purpose is to C u information
to lay before the people for the bond
election. Do our citizens want to
know what they are buying when
they vote bonds to the limit, or do
they prefer to continue experiment
ing and squandering money?
1t is not a question of making a
contract or not making a contract
with the Northern States Power
Company, but the question of the
kind of a plant or device you a buy
for the $780, 900.
We want the people to decide as
between the municipal plant and the
purchase of electricity. We would
not feel justified in building or
making a contract with any outside
company until the voters have decid-
ed what they want.
This they will do when they vote
on the bonds. but first of all we pro-
pose to investigate to satisfy our-
selves and to intelligently post the
voters as to what can be done with
500 900. We refuse to buy a pig
in a poke.
The fact is the mayor. who is at
the head of the electric light depart
ment, does not seem to have any SET
tied policy as to what kind of a plant
to build and we have not been able
to ascertain what he would stick to.
Directly after the fire he said a
steam plant was the only thing; n
little later he advocated a 500
horsepower DIESEL; a few weeks
ago he again said a steam plant was
the only thing. His proposition nov
to buy a 250-horsepower Diesel
would not satisfy the peoples eX-
pectations. From the test now be
ing made, according TO Superintend-
ent Quanstrom's figures, the 365-
horsepower Deisiel is carrying at
certain hours a full load.
If anything happened to the biz
engine, as there frequently does. the
proposed 250-horsepower engine
could not handle the load even with
the street lights turned off. Thus
for a 100000 plant, as proposed by
the mayor, the city could not expect
adequate service.
The life of any internal combus-
ton engine is conceded to be about
ten years at the best. The big en-
CINE has run five years and went
through a fire. If it would give out
at any time the city would be left
with less than half a plant, 500 900
bonds in force and no chance to issue
more bonds unless the valuation is
, raised, and goodness knows the valu-
alton and taxes are high enough
now.
We stand for an honest investiga-
tion because We want to know what
we are doing. We have the same in
terest in the city's investments and
improvements that we take in our
own personal affairs.
We want the people to vote on
the proposition through a bond cleo
ton and we are ready to act on their
decision at the polls.
Signed at the city of Madison, ;,
ID, this 14th day of April. 1919, by
A. G. SCHMIDT.
JOSEPH HENKIN.