The Glenwood post., 1923-07-05
Must Understand Public De.
mands if They Wonld Sue.
ceed and Expand Business
LIKE A new GOSPEL

experts in public sentiment
that what the public utility organ
izations Of this state can justly claim
for themselves, asserted George E.
Lewis Of Denver, executive manager of
the Rocky Mountain Committee ON
Public Utility Information, who was
a visitor in Glenwood Springs Tues
day and Wednesday.
"The progressive public utility in
stitution now endeavors to build up
its public relations as well as its bust
ness, for it must have public senti
merit on its ade," continued Mr..
Lewis. "For more than a year the
utilities, largely through the organiza-
tion represent, have been prosecut-
ing systematic plans for creating un-
derstanding on the part of the people
they serve, principally through news
paper advertising And that they are
succeeding is evidenced by the fairer
attitude being manifested by the peo.
ple.''
A little over year ago,o contin.
ued Mr.. Lewis, "the more progressive
public utility institutions of the state
launched systematic program to create
better public understanding and friend
illness by frankly making known their
affairs to the people. Wherever pos
slble, newspaper advertising was adopt
ed as the most effective method of
accomplishing this. The committee I
represent was organized to systematize
and coordinate this effort. The pur-
pose of my trip is to determine from
first hand information to what extent
our efforts have succeeded. / am en-.
thusiastic over the results. In every
town where the public service com.
panies have taken up this good will
building program, signal success has
followed.
While this committee and its as.
soeiated companies have done much to
familiarize people with the fact that
their utilities are big community as
sets, because of the large sums they
contribute toward tax needs, because
of the wages they distribute and the
money they expend for supplies, peo-
pie have not waited to be told these
things. They are rapidly finding out
for themselves that they have a real,
personal interest, in the prosperity
and welfare of their public service
institutions.
People know that, under state reg
ulation, the utilities cannot impose az.
cessive rates, even if there was any
disposition to do so. They know ssr-
vice must be adequate. They realize.
as never before, that the conduct of
every utility is in their hands.
lone of the principal reasons for
acquainting the people with our af-
fairs is to make it possible for us tn
enlarge the scope of our operations in
growing communities. To keep up with
customer and community demands, the
utilities must constantly borrow money.
Tor the revenue from monthly bills is
not enough for any utility in the ma
tion to care for extensions. To obtain
money with which to meet extension
demands, the utilities must show lend
ers that their relations with the pub-
lie, as well as their business, are good.
else their loans will be refused. II ia
the public more than the compan;es
that suffers when the necessary ex.
tensions cannot be made. 1t can read.
ily be seen that the people have a per.
sonal interest in the success and wei
fare of their utilities.
More and more public ownership
OF the utilities is developing, chiefly
through customer ownership of their
securities. By this method municipal
ownership (or political ownership, az
It is now known) is obviated. The
people have a voice in the affairs of
their utilities and the utilities are on.
Grated without any Of the retarding
influences that enter into other forms
Of public ownership"
yIo craRa far hpsstf..A III,