Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-07-17
EXCITING BATTLE IS
WACNC ON POWER
CONTROVERSY IN CITY
Mayor Storkan Wants To Dis
place Power Company With
Diesel Engine

Monday evening the City Council
met to approve of the tax levy for the
ensuing year. At the meeting held
July 7th a levy of 49 mills had been
made, but which was found excessive
and it became necessary to have same
reduced and changed to comply with
the legal requirements.
The levy as finally approved calls
for 32h mills; being Is mills for
general administrative purposes, 10
mills for sinking fund, S mills for
bond and interest fund, 2 mills for
Fire apparatus fund and " mill for
band fund.
The Montana-Dakota Power Com
pany appeared through VIM. David
son, F. R. Kleinsorge and w. L. Carl
son of Williston as well at Attorney
Howard NJ. Lewis of Plentywood.
Mr.. Carlson was given the floor and
he quoted figures from some of the
towns in North Dakota which did not
compare with the figures given our
councilmen when they visited these
towns.
Mayor Storkan then wanted to ex-
plain the situation, but Mr.. Carlson
had the floor and stated he was not
through with his explanation and the
Mayor ordered him off the floor. Be-
fore the Mayor had a chance to give
his version of the cost Of maintaining
municipal plants in these North Da-
kota towns, the floor was given to
VIM. Davidson Of Williston who in
formed the assembly that he was not
here for the purpose of starting a
fight with the city government here,
but in order to meet the wishes of the
City council in the furnishing of street
lights and power would be willing to
have members Of the council go with
him to Minneapolis and meet with the
chief officials of the Power Company
and assured the Council that satisfac-
tory rates would be given the City
by entering into a new contract, If the
present one was not satisfactory to
Plentywood.
He further offered to get the Public
Service Commission of Montana to
come to P~lentywood and hold a public
hearing and let them decide as to
what would be fair rates for the Pow
err Company to charge the City for
street light and power service.
Mr.. Davidson said that the last
thing the Power Company would want
to do was to enter into litigation with
Plentywood, as it would cause a great
deal Of bitterness, and that in behalf
of his company stood ready to do al
in his power to avert such a contin'
gency.
Mr.. Davidson finally informed the
Council that the power compan!
would not relinquish its business il
Plentywood without a bitter fight IL
the Courts and hat they would exer
else their rights of eminent domain
and that they would remain here as
competing electric light company II
spite Of all efforts to GUST them, bu'
that he would give them every oppor
tunity to get reduced rates either
through a meeting with the officials
in Minneapolis, or through the Public
Service Commission, and then gave
the floor to the Mayor.
The plant installed by the Fair
banks Morse Company, to be paid fol
from the earnings of the plant vii
cost $47,363.O0 plus six per cent in
terest. The pole line will cost ap.
proximately $1,000; the lots and the
building about $8,500.00 and the mat
ter that is now necessary to be solved
is the matter Of obtaining funds fol
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