The Wrangell sentinel., 1931-10-30
Mayor Kirtland Writes Open Letter
 10 Wrangeu Users of Electricity

1 Town of Wrangell
 During the past few days the world in general and the American people in particular suffered a great and irreparable loss in the death of Thomas Edison, possibly the greatest inventor of the age.
 Among the many things which Edison's inventive genius gave to the world, the modern electric light bulb is probably the best known and most appreciated. The gradual inn proyement of this invention from its first crude form to it's present perfection affords a few moments of interesting reflection.
 We venture to say that there are very few people who, when they snap on an electric light, give any thought to the machinery and or ganization which is necessary to produce the electricity which lights the bulb.
 In order to successfully bring to the consumer any product there must be either a company or a de- partment whose business it Is to produce this product and bring it to the consumer at the least possible cost.
 On November 1 there will be a new department and a new organi- zation at work in the town of Wrangell. Its name will be the City Light Department and its duties will be to economically produce and dis tribute to the good people of Wran- gell, electricity for domestic and commercial use.
 For over a year the town has been supplied with very poor cleo trical service and as the council has been unsuccessful in interesting any concern in putting in a modern plant 1t has been forced to take over the light plant and convert it into a municipal enterprise.
 By so doing every user of cleo tricity in the town becomes a share holder in this new organization. Those who are heavy users natur- ally are the largest stock holders. Through the council the people of Wrangell have made a capital stock subscription of approximately $15,- 000.00 which is represented by the new equipment which the council has had to install to give you good service. For approximately the next two years the profits of the light de- partment will be used to pay for this machinery after which time they can either be used for still further enlargement of the equipment or the users of electricity can then start to draw dividends in the form of reduced rates or reduced taxes.
 The Interstate Power and Light Company of Seattle is the firm from which the town secured the new machinery for your light plant on a contract basis. This contract states that all payments for this machin- cry must be made from the receipts of the light department and that not one cent of tax money will go into the venture.
 This company has sent an cleo trical engineer to Wrangell to super wise the installation of the new plant and to put the new depart ment on a firm business basis. This gentleman's name is MT. Wellons and we want you all to meet him and to discuss with him, any matter you wish relative to your new or ganization.
 Commencing November 1 there will be new schedule of rates in effect and we want you all to under stand them thoroughly. These rates you will find printed elsewhere in this paper.
 contract will be entered into with the government to supply the new school at Shoemaker Bay with electricity which will bring sub stantial revenue into the light de- partment.
 We feel sure that the citizens ap- prove of this municipal light plant as a majority of them recently sign ed a petition requesting that such action be taken.
 We want you all to realize the importance of this new department and also that it's success depends en- tirely upon it's stockholders, who are yourselves, one and all.
 TOWN COUNCIL
 By c. P KIRTLAND
 Mayor