Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1921-02-11
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY IL, 1927.
WATER AND LIGHT QUESTION

Transcript (Feb. 2).-"Discussion OF
the water situation brings out the fact
that there are MANY in the city who
are not enthusiastic over munlc1pa1
ownership under the present methods OF
operation of such plants in other cities
in THEORY municipal ownership, no
doubt is good, but some method for the
handling Of utilities by the city must
be worked out to safeguard the interests
of the taxpayer and give a service that
is demanded Of any privately owned
plant. The Transcript believes the
WATER and LIGHT plant can be made
a very valuable asset under city owner
ship, if it is properly conducted. Mis-
takes Of other cities should have some
influence in the handling Of a local
plant if it is purchased.
Transcript (Feb. 81: The water sit
uation in Little Falls just now has
reached a point where the question Of
whether municipal ownership is GOOD
THING OR NOT makes little difference.
Apparently there is but ONE avenue in
ownership and that is MUNICIPAL.
The matter to be decided is whether it
is for the BEST INTERESTS OF THE
CITY to buy the present plant or build
a new one. From all data, the Tran
script is able to gather, the purchase OF
the present plant is the cheaper method
if the city and company arrive at fair
price. The installation of an entirely
new equipment will mean an enormous
sum and if the present plant can be Sc
cured, it. should be done. We fully be-
lieve the company is sincere in all it's
h. IN ~
the city in it's present difficulty"
Transcript FEB. 81: It is hoped that
the council in it's executive sessions will
deal with the WATER matters only.
The CITIZENS do not want municipal
ownership of the ELECTRIC distribu-
ticn system with An attendant increase
Of rateA''
AS will be noted, the above three ar
ticles are editorial utterances Of the
Transcript in order of their publica-
cation. The capitals are ours.
If there are MANY opposed to mum
icipal ownership, it was not brought out
at the public mass meeting, attended by
about 100, there being but four out Of
IA speakers not favorable and one of
these favored taking over the cleo
trio plant with the water plant from a
business standpoint. "In theory
and in practice, municipal ownership,
taken as general proposition, has
been proven to be good. "The Tran
script believes the WATER and LIGHT
plant can be made a very valuable as
set under city ownership, if it is proper
" conducted.' Are the citizens and
officials of Littls Falls less capable than
those in other towns, where municipal
plants are run successfully
In its editorial of February 3, our
contemporary says in relation to the
water system, "Apparently there is but
MUNICIPAL. This is granted. Then
would it not appear to be sound business
policy, even to those not altogether en-
amored Of the municipal ownership idea;
to attach utility that is a money earn
er to the one forced on the city that is
said to be a money loser, if the electric
system can be secured at a reasonable
fgures If it is felt that the company
will deal fairly with the city on the
water system, what reason is there to
believe that it will not deal as fairly
on the electric distribution system and
sale of wholesale "juice." The sale
Of wholesale "juice" to municipalities
is not new with the Water Power Com
pany. Towns on their extension lines
are receiving that kind of service.
We rather think that the Transcript
got mixed as between the water and
light systems when it refers to the sys-
tenn that the citizens do not want-es-
pecia1ly at this time of high construc
ton prices. We are quite satisfied that
the city council will give the whole mat
ter their best thought and this would
naturally take in proper consideration
Of the purchase of the electric system
in their negotiations, The council and
the company surely appreciate the fact
that a proposal must he presented to the
voters Of the city that must be fairly
acceptable, and the better the PROPOSE
,tion-business proposition if you like
the more likely will it be accepted.
A to the way the "theory" of NUM-
cipal ownership works out in "practice -
we would call attention to the statement
given out as to the Virginia, Minnesota,
municipal plant, which appeared in the
Duluth Herald of February 3, 1921:
The municipal water and light de-
partment last year, as stated in Wednes-
days Herald, made the largest net pro
fit recorded since the city purchased the
water and light plant seven years ago,
77,650.34. The heating system fell
slightly short Of earning the $4,000 ne
cessary to pay back fifteenth of the
cost Of the central heating plant and
interest on the money the city has in
vested. The total profit for the first
year Of The heating system was $12,-
-.372.44.
The reports state that the unusual
situation of increasing the net profit in
the face Of big increases in costs, with
out advancing rates, is due to the gen.
eral expansion in consumption. Water
consumption 262, 794, 200 gallons in 1919