The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1919-01-20

cision, and out of that canvass he
found but one person who did not
most emphatically pronounce an in
Simultaneous mo" to the proposition
of permitting the Northern States
Power company to seek a franchise
in this city for a project whose earn
ings would go entirely into the treas
ury of the General Electric company,
of Minneapolis, the parent concern of
the Northern States Power company,
of Sioux Falls. And this canvass is
not yet completed.
We are not at this time going into
the record OF the business relations
Of the Northern States Power COM
pany with the city of Sioux Falls as
u server of current to that city That
isn't necessary, nor relevant, just
now. For full knowledge of that re-
lation we refer our citizens to a
lengthy article on that subject that
appeared in the Sioux Falls Argus
Leader during the month of Decem-
Der. What we most wish to do is to
Judge the whole matter from the
viewpoint OF MadisoHs interest and
ability to conduct her w municipal
business, and construct her own pub
lie works.
Upon the surface, the proposition
Of the Northern States Power COM
mn nv oppaay c ;otaravtipg and auita
alluring to those unfamiliar with the
novel little technical loopholes in
law into which a giant corporations
directorate can file, four abreast,
when breaking faith and promise un-
der supposed guarantees of saving
and service to a municipal that listen
ed to their swan song" Buying
electricity in Sioux Falls (this means
indirectly purchasing it of the Gen.
eral Electric company, of Minneap-
olis,) because it appears cheaper, is
like buying a suit of clothes of Sears
Roebuck and company because they
appear to be sold cheaper than J.. A.
johnson, Hackett & Sutton, the Kra-
mer Clothing company or Grinager
Brothers a sell them, with this ex-
ception: If you buy of Sears Roe
buck and company and find upon ex-
animation that the suit is poor, shod-
dy and cheap Tin more sense than
one) and that you did not save mon
ey By sending out of town for it,
Sears Roebuck and company would
take back the goods and refund your
money. Then you could buy of your
home merchant which you should
have done first. Same with the
Juice purchased in Sioux Falls
with the exception above mentioned
1t may appear cheaper and the serv.
ice may be promised good and de.
pendable. But what If it did not
turn out that way? Would the com.
pany take back the suit" and re
fund our money!" If they did not
what recourse have the people of ouI
city after the right to use our streets
is bargained away for a proverbial
"mess of pottage" under a long term
franchise granted the purveyor of a
SO called cheap suit?
Moral: Buy your electricity al
home. Make it at home for then the
revenue from the sale of it will re.
main in the city to be spent here
building up our W town instead oil
being carted off to Minneapolis oil
Sioux Falls to enlarge them in com
petition with many business lines In
Madison.
A municipality owned electric plan,
for this city is an attractive PROPOSE.
ton that must appeal to men of good
business ense. Such a plant as the
proposed one, to cost around $10e,
600, would indeed be one of the best
possible advertisements for the city
and its progress. Investors judginf
Madison from that kind of municipal
stunt" would not be loath to select
this place tor financial opportunity
Such a project speaks of interest
progress. pride and a power to &C
complish. Again it would offer an
opportunity for the employment %
engineers. firemen, watchmen, line
men and inspectors. all of whom
would spend the greater part of theil
wages with our merchants and deal
ers, and, perhaps, they being prop
erty owners, taxes would revert t
the city for its expenses and othel
municipal projects.
Power must be had It operate GU,
system of waterworks and the cost O
such power is a large fraction of tn,
cost Of a complete electric ligh
plant. Why. then, not go the Who'll,
way, and erect a dependable, modern
plant that will serve any and all pur
poses? Once more, such an addition
to Madison would be a fine exhibi
tion Of progress. 1t would mean J;
growing city whose people hat
caught the spirit Of enterprise that
logically. first tests it's own power
wisdom and u to meet iii
own needs-and a fine spirit that is
too! Madison has it. There can b,