The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-12-20
Enterprise Favors Sale of Electric Plant

(Yorkton, Sask., Enterprise)
The sale of Yorkton's municipal power and
light SYSTEM with which is involved the grant,
ing of franchise to the purchaser, is a ques-
ton that will be submitted to vote Of the
burgesses within the next few months. This
problem and the Council is pursuing the course
of wisdom in proceeding cautiously in the
matter.
1t is important because the vote will deter
mine, among other things, whether or not
Yorkton is to continue to operate an electric
plant as municipal utility or whether this
important public service is to be entrusted to
private management. The decision Of the
burgesses on this matter will vitality affect the
future growth and development Of Yorkton.
Knowing something from the past expert
ence OF the Council in the operation of the York
ton municipal plant; having in mind the capital
invested and the further heavy commitments
necessary if the plant and its distribution sys-
tenn are to be maintained in state of efficien-
Icy and the growing demand for electric power
and light service that will be adequate, less
costly and reasonably free from interruption
assured, The Enterprise can see but one solu-
ton Of the problem.
Each OF the three companies competing for
the purchase of our system and franchise offer
us substantially lower rates for. both light and
y
available supply Of power sufficient to meet all
demands for industrial expansion and to as
sumo the debenture Indebtedness of the plant.
The acceptance of any one of these offers would
automatically result in a considerable saving
IN power and light costs annually both to the
town and the individual consumers would place
Yorkton in position to offer industries power
and light rates sufficiently attractive to give
us an almost even break with larger centres that
are building up local industries because of being
IN position to provide power at reasonable
rates and would greatly improve the financial
standing of the municipality.
There are those who are opposed on principle
to the granting Of municipal franchise, no
matter how attractive the offer may be or the
advantage to be gained by the transaction.
Municipal ownership, with them, outweighs all
other considerations and arguments.
Municipal ownership, in practice and in
theory, in so far as this particular issue is con-
cerned, are two distinctly different propositions
as anyone must admit who is prepared to study
the question with an open mind.
BY continuing municipal ownership Yorkton
citizens are faced with continued high rates for
light and power; with inability to offer rates
that would attract new industries in competi-
ton with other centres; with difficulty in pro-
viding adequate power to insure future growth
and development and the surety Of having to
pay, IN taxes, rates and other charges, to the
uttermost farthing, the excessive debenture in
debtedness now charged against the municipal
system. This is high price to pay for the
doubtful privilege of maintaining an electric
system as municipal utility.
The experience of towns and cities in East
ern Canada and throughout the United States
has demonstrated beyond question the superior
efficiency and economy of transmission systems
as compared with individual generating plants
and the towns and cities that have refused to
take advantage of the service thus offered find
themselves severely handicapped in this in.
dustrial age
The Enterprise holds no brief for any Of the
companies seeking to purchase the Yorktou
system and franchise. It is not yet in q posi-.
ton to decide which of the three offers sub.
mitted is the most advantageous to the town
There are SO many phases to this question and
|so many facts yet to be brought out that such
|a decision is not yet possible.
But we have no hesitation in urging the bur.
gesses Of Yorkt0n to vote in favor Of the nc.
ceptance Of the offer which may finallyl b(
shown to b the most advantageous to }h'
town.