New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1920-06-02
QUESTION UP TO
VOTERS TUESDAY
$3.50, 600 BOND ISSUE FOR. NEW
POWER. PLANT TO BE
VOTED ON.
CITY FATHERS POINT OUT PRE-
SENT AND FUTURE NEEDS
OF CITY.

The special election on the bond issue
for the erection of the proposed new
municipal electric light and water works
plant in North German park, which was:
decided upon by the city council at one
of it's recent meetings, will be held on
Tuesday, June 6th. The amount of
the bond issue will be S250,O00 which
sum is expected to fully cover the cost
of the new structure and the necessary.
new machinery and other equipment.
There is no need to point out the great
importance of this election, not only in
regard to the present situation, but also
in view of the future development OF
the city of New Ulm. The voters will
have to decide whether the city will stay
on the road of a healthy progress as
far as it's electric light and power service
is concerned, or whether it shall remain
in state of stagnation, at least for a.
number Of years.
Had Many Discussions.
There can be no question but that the
city fathers have done their duty in this
matter. For many months they have
discussed it in thorough and pains
taking manner. A large number Of
special meetings were held to gather the
necessary information and to get at the.
bottom of the question so as to serve the
city in the best way possible.
Three-Fifths Majority Needed:
To carry the issue asked for by the
present administration in calling for the
special election it will be necessary that
three-ffhts of the votes cast at the polls
on June 8, are in favor of issuing the
bonds. But the city fathers are con-
WINGED that if the voters study the
situation thoroughly there can be no
question about the favorable outcome of
the election.
The Argument.
The argument of the administration,
in short, is that the repairing of the
present building which is absolutely
necessary at the present time will cause
an expenditure not much smaller than
the one required by an entirely new
building. The difference as figured out
by experts who have made thorough in
vesitgation of the local situation and of
the condition of the present plant is
placed at only $37 1000. In this con-
nection city officials also call attention
to the fact that in case the present plant
is remodeled the situation will be only
relieved for the short period of about
five years the building leaving no more
room for futare development which must
be anticipated as the city grows and the
demands on the power plant increase.
According to the figures submitted to
the city fathers the cost OF new unit
and its installation will be $145,0O0. To
this will have to be added 100000 for
building the new addition to the old
building. Compared with this total of
SITS 900 the cost of the new building will
be $212,000 according to the bids re-
Gently submitted to the council. The
difference between the two projects is
thus placed at $4,000. This figure will
not be changed by the expense for the
changing of wiaing and the placing of
underground conduit plus poles etc. in
the sum of about $4,000 because this
expenditure will be the same in either
case.
One of the Two.
There seems to be no other way out:
The city will either have to rebuild or
enlarge it's own plant or connect with an
outside concern. The latrer alternative
was vigorously objected to some tin e
ago by the organized labor element in
the city and it is believed that majority
of all other citizens are also opposed to
such procedure. One thing is certain
that the present plant is inadequate to
meet the requirements Of the city's con-
sumers of electrical current. 1t may
be of interest to know that the citizens
of Watertown, S. D., only last week voted
in favor of an additional 100000 bond
issue for the purpose Of building a new
municipal power plant. The total cost
Of this improvement, including the in
stallation of new heating system and
new white way, will be approxima tely
$500,000.
Mr. and Mrc Otto n Knhn of Ct