The labor world., 1921-12-03
CITY CAN BUILD ITS Own PLANT
AND GIVE HEAT TO ALL ATC0ST
Private Company Must Not Be Granted Right to Pick Cream Of
Business and Neglect Other Sections Of City.
The city commissioners are ad-

The city commissioners are ad-
vised to 60 slow in granting
franchise to certain private
parties for a central heating
plant. They will undoubtedly
give the matter careful consider
alton before taking any action,
which Of course in any event will
be finally passed upon by the
people. None want to stand. in
the way Of city progress, but this
is no way to advance the interests
Of all.
We Need a Plant.
Duluth needs public heating plant
as much as it needs anything in the
world. No item in the cost of living
except food approaches that of the
cost of fuel. Even cordwood, once
the poor mans boon, is now on the
luxury list. Fuel for heating is used
in nearly every home for the greater
part of nine months year.
Rent, clothing, food and fuel con-
stitute the chief items in family
budget. A local government has no
power to regulate the -,rice of any
such articles. The state and federal
governments have not assumed. any
power to regulate prices, except in
time OF war, and We are to have no
more war, let us hope.
Cannot Hit Rents.
A city can do much to Influence
rent through taxation and we have
not reached the time yet when it
would be regarded as good city busi-
ness to build homes. In some foreign
cities that is being done by the mu-
In America we are learn
ing how to build homes much better
through the medium, of cooperative
building and loan associations,
With regard to clothing and food
there is little opportunity Tor relief
from high prices through. any agencies
the city might set up. Our climate.
seems to be too unreasonable to as
sure success to city markets. We are
not disposed to open city-owned stores
for the sale of clothing and food. It
is not desirable. The workers are in
a measure helping to solve the prob
lem for themselves by organizing CO.
operative stores.
Heating at Cost.
When it comes to heating, it is
like light and air and water. In Du-
'luth We have farmed out the privi-
lege of serving the people with but
one of such necessities OF comfort and
and life. We give the. people water
and gas at cost. We permit a pri-
vate company to make a profit in
supplying us with electric light, and
as that company has been very fair
with the people it has continued to
do business without interruption in
spite Of the fact that the sentiment
here is In favor of municipal owner
ship.
Duluth needs public heating plant
or plants. On account of the topog-
raphy of the city the unit system OF
heating would seem the most practice
able, just as was recommended by
Commissioner Merritt some years ago
with regards to the electric lighting
system.
1t Would Be Folly.
Would it not be folly to grant to
private parties a franchise to supply
the central portion of the city; to take
the cream Of the business, and to
permit the rest of the folks in other
sections to look on with envy while
they are being denied such a luxury?
The proposed franchise extends from
Third avenue east to Seventh avenue
west and up the hill to Third street.
It can be depended upon If the people
living below Third street in the GEN.
trail portion of the city enjoy the con-
venience of a public heating plant a
demand will be made from other Sec
tions for the same convenience.
What company would want to take
the responsibility and the risk Of fur.
nishing heat to the lean sections of
the city? To grant such franchise
as is asked for at. this time would
be but another municipal blunder
which we would live to regret. 1t is
true the central plant could be pur-
chased at any time, but If such were
done we would be forced to pay for
valuation, going value, good will and
q lot Of other trash. There is nothing
doing.
VIII Not Reduce Rents.
Is one foolish enough to believe that
the granting of the franchise would
result in reducing office rents In. the
public buildings down town? In the
upper section of the district it would
result in increasing trent. We know
Of q private: boarding house where it
is necessary to employ a man to take
care Of the furnace. His services
would not be necessary when heat 10
to be supplied by q private company:
The landlord would soon find It out
and he would only exact that much
more in rent, that is If we are to judge
by his habit. s:.,sse1st :: !. 1.
: The installation. Of q public heat
ing system in Duluth, one that would
extend from Lakeside to New Duluth.
is no physical or financial .problenl.
It would pay for itself in twenty five
years. It is notsneceasary to FAY steam
pipes ~ deep IN the ground as water
and gas pipes. There Will be. very
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