The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1926-02-04
CITY'S LIGHT PLANT
A SPLENDID ASSET
REPORT READ AT COMMUNITY
CLUB SHOULD SATISFY
ALL CITIZENS
PLANT is A MONEY MAKER
WATER SYSTEM SHOWING A
PROFIT FOR FIRST TIME
SINCE INSTALLATION

The average Sank Centre citizen
does not fully appreciate the asset the
city possesses in controlling the cleo
trio light and power system of Sank
Centre.
At Thursday evenings meeting of
the Community Club, Secretary of
the Commission Victor Conklin read
comprehensive report of what the
plant had accomplished since it was
taken over by the city in 1916.
With the enactment of the City
Charter Water, Light and Power
Commission was appointed to man.
age this property. During all the
years the city has owned the system
and for years before, John N. Nc
Gibbon has been the active manager.
At. Thursday evenings meeting a
vote of thanks was rendered the Com
mission for the splendid manner in
which they were safeguarding the
City's interest. President O'Gara in
discussing the achievements of the
plant said that the Commission unan-,
imously wanted credit to be given
where it was due, and stated that
the splendid showing of the plant
would not have been possible if it
had not been for the very efficient
and enthusiastic management of Mr..
McGibbon. The commission person.
mel is George O'Gara, DR.. H. F. Hen
nemann and f. w. Perry. The SEN
ier' member of the commission auto
matically becoming chairman.
Mr.. Conklin's report also showed
n "a yTyof nr cxTcyto
|self-sustaining basis for the first
time after the new system was in
stalled and the patrons placed on the
meter basis.
Much criticism has been offered
adverse to municipal lighting plants,
but apparently Sank Centre is one
of the very few exceptions to the
rule. The report shows that the
patrons are paying a lower rate for
both electricity and water than most
municipalities enjoy.
The report gave So much valuable
information that should be in the
hands of the entire community that
the Herald is glad to publish it in
full herewith:
Electric Light & Power
The first electric lights were installed
in Sank Centre in 1888. The first
franchise was granted to the Keller,
Manufacturing Company. On June
80, 1892 the rights were taken over
under a new franchise by Thomas D..
Davidson. From that date until
1916 current was furnished and the
pole lines owned and operated by the
Central Minnesota Power and Milling
Company, commonly known as the
"mill." Electricity was generated by
water power and steam. In June of
1916 the milling company sold their
rights to the Light and Power Com
pany of St. Cloud, Whitney corpor-
alton, which operated the plant four
months, until September 1916, when
the City of Sank Centre took over
the rights of the Light and Power
Company of st. Cloud.
In that year the voters of the city
authorized $4,000 bond issue for
the installation of it's own general
ing plant, which was installed in the
present power-house on North Main
Street. This plant, consisting of two
Diesel engines, operated for about
four years. In 1920, because of vi
bration developing in the local plant,
and because of the inadequacy of
the engines to pull the ever
increasing load, the city entered
into five year contract with the St.
Cloud Water Power Company, an
other Whitney corporation, for high
line service, retaining their engines
as auxiliary or standby power. This
contract remained in force being ex-
tended for one year) until January
1926. The city has recently signed
a ten year contract with the st.
Cloud Public Service Company, for
high line service, for a period Of ten
years, still retaining it's local plant as
a standby.
1. Bonded Indebtedness
At the outset it should be UNDER
stood by everyone that the light plant
and white-way bonds have not cost
the taxpayers one cent-all the bur-
den of interest and paying off the
principal being taken care of by re-
ceipts from the patrons of the light
and power department..
The original issue in 1917 was
$500 $4,000 of this was paid in
1922 by sinking fund maintained
according to the city charter, and
$4,000 per year since then so that
that issue is now cut to $4,000.
The white-way bonds issued in
1922 were for $4,000. There is no
prepayment privilege as to these,
but the Commission has been paying
into a sinking fund 81 900 per year so
that the obligation now amounts to
$4,000.
2. Depreciation Fund
The city charter provides that the
commission shall annually set aside