The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1921-02-24
GRANITE PLANTS
DEFY WHITNEY
ST. CLOUD SHOPS CLOSE I'm
PROTEST AGAINST NEW
RATE SCHEDULE
POWER co. CALLS AN EXPERT
PATRONS ASK LEGISLATURE To
GOVERN POWER AND LIGHT
RATES IN CITY

Declaring that a new schedule Of
electric power rates furnished them
by the Whitney power interests at
st. Cloud, is prohibitive and far in
excess Of their means all granite
shops in the city of st. Cloud closed
their doors Tuesday morning. ~.
These shops will remain out Of
business in protest against these
rates until Mr.. Whitney alters his
program or until legislation can be
passed reducing the rate to more
moderate basis. -,
This action was taken by Fl gran
lite producers, which is practically
the entire membership of the Gram
lite Producers Association. II
In the meantime members of the
association have taken up the situa-
ton with their representatives in the
legislature in hopes of instigating
legislation which will secure for
them cheaper schedule. -.
The new rate schedule furnished
by Mr.. Whitney and which resulted
in the action of the granite people
was:
LIGHTING First SO kilowatt
hours per month, IL cents net, per
XVIII; next $50, 8 cents; all in ex-
cess of 500, cents. Minimum charge
81 net per month. -.5.''...
POWER-First 400 kilowatt hours
per month. .065 net per XVIII; next
600, .045 cents; next 500, .035 cents.
next 1000, .03 cents; next 1000,
.027 cents; all in excess of $500, .023
cents. Minimum bill 81 per h. p. per
month, connected load. t+7
In explanation of this rate, Mr..
Whitney wrote the granite men;
'"This is purely water power rate
and will be subject to the following
coal clause:
(This clause provides that during
any month or part thereof*** when
it shall be necessary to operate it's
steam generating stations to supply
power service in whole or in part,
then in addition to the price named
***there will be made and become
payable charge per hlowatt hour
by dividing the cost Of fuel by the
kilowatt hours sold for power pur-
poses.)"
In answer to the power people, the
granite men addressed the following
communication to Mr.. Whitney:
eve desire to advise you at TINS
time that we, as users OF electac
current among the granite manu1ac-
turers and producers, will close an
our plants Tuesday morning, Febru-
ary 22nd, to remain closed indefinite
ly.
"This action on our part is neces-
sarv because of the very indefinite
and unsatisfactory situation existing
as to the rates for electric current.
at will be necessary that all we
users of electric current among the
granite manufacturers and producers
remain imperative and keep our
plants idle until such time as some
thing definite and satisfactory IS ar
rived at in the matter of cost OF cur
rent.
cater the morning of February
22nd we will not be DESTROYS Oh us
ing any power whatsoever and tne
situation will be the same as though 8,
we discontinued business and we VIII
not expect to pay any minimum 9,
other charge for any current unused:
Immediately upon receipt OF no.i-
fcation of the steps taken by the
granite men Mr.. Whitney called ~
an expert engineer to invesuga.e
conditions and to submit report 10
the granite people. -.
It is probable that the future at'l,
tude of the consumers will be based
upon the report of this engineer ana
such legislation as is taken care Oh
in st. Paul.
In the meantime, the granite shops
in st. Cloud remain closed, pending
a REIMBURSEMENT of rate conditions.