The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1920-04-24
THE ELECTRIC LIGHT PLANT

The Progress has for some
time given much thought to the cree
tion by the city Of an entirely new
and up-to-date electric light system,
from the plant to the wiring. Some
adverse criticism Of our Stand has
been made, and doubtless viii con
tinue to be made We are looking
the facts in the face, however, and
believing that we are well informed
on the subject, we have no apologies
to offer for advocating complete
new system.
A splendid example of the up-to-
date system that Opelousas boasts of
is cited in the Sunday morning fire at
the Haas home Defective wiring
in fact, bad wiring-was the cause of
the flames. If this were the only
place to be destroyed on account of
our antiquated and rundown electric
light plant, Opelousas would have no
cause to worry; but we are told by the
superintendent of the plant that
many homes and many places of bus
mess are subject to being destroyed
by fire on account Of the bad wires
stretched in every direction in this
city.
"A mere casual observation of the
electric wires, no matter in what pOr-
Ntion of the city, will reveal the true
and sad condition Of our wiring-this
part Of the system is no better than
the plant itself. Opelousas faces a
grave crisis and one which it must
meet sooner or later. Our reason,
therefore, for advocating new sys-
TEN, from the bottom upwards, is logi-
cal, we believe, as it is an undisputed
fact that unless something is done to
remedy matters at once, Opelousas
is very likely to experience shut
down at the power plant for several
weeks. A condition of this kind could
have been tolerated few years back,
but at this time it would be little
short of catastrophe and would re-
suit in financial loss to many business
enterprises, besides subjecting this
city to many untold dangers, as the
water supply would be curtailed, if
not altogether shut off, and in case
of fire the property of taxpayers
would be menaced by the flames.
Let the people Of this city drop al
notions that because the plant is ap.
parently working all right now; that
because we have both electric cur
rent and water-that everything there
is o. X. and the danger threatening
them is mere bugaboo and one con
!. cocted in the fertile imaginations OF
wasteful spenders who wish to have a
new plant for other motives than the
real one facing them.
No one denies the fact that a plant
will cost money. So does everything
cost money, and plenty Of it in these
days of everlasting high prices. But
it is either pay the money and secure
the plant or face the prospect of 60
ing without lights, power and water
If you think this latter is calamity
then get your noodle in thinking or
der and get wise to the conclusion that
the old saying of "a stitch in time
saves nine" is an actuality in the case
Of the Opeloasas power plant. And if
on the other hand, you are willing, in
order to save money, go back to the
old days when our streets were dark
and our homes lit by smoky oil lamps
and we depended on mosquito-breed-
ing and disease breeding cisterns and
shallow wells for water--then sit SUI
pinely by and see the electric plant
go to the demnition bow-wows pretty
soon and again enjoy that happy con-
dition of the almost prehistoric past
1t is either pay for the plant now OF
later, or go without light, power and
water. Which horn of the dilemma
do you care to be impaled on?
-O--