Milford chronicle., 1946-02-22

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY p, 1916
WE WRITE THIS to pay tribute, and to
express our thanks and appreciation to fine
old lady-NIrs. Annie B. Harrington, of Fred
erica. For fOrty-eight years this kindly lady
has written her regular weekly news letter
for the Milford Chronicle from the Town of
Frederica During this time she has seen the
Chronicle grow from struggling rural week
ly to its present position well in the forefront
of the thirteen thousand weekly newspapers
in America Much of our growth and inf1u-
ence we credit to such fine correspondents as
Mrs. Harrington and others like her who
have regularly submitted news from their
communities. For years and years we at the
Chronicle Office have considered the letter
submitted by Mrs. Harrington we'll at the top
of all communications received by this news
paper She had an excellent nose for news
knew how to present it in an intelligent and
readable manner and covered her assigned
territory well. But the infirmltieS of age
creep upon all human beings. Such is the
case with Mrs. Harrington. With this issue
of the Chronicle she relinguishes her role as
correspondent from her town, and younger
hands take over. We believe that we have
secured q worthy successor to this beloved
old lady-Alrs. Elizabeth Harrington. As Il
token of the respect and love we hold for, and
the obligation we feel we owe to Mrs IIar-
ringtOn, we have made arrangements where
by our friend and associate of forty-eight
years standing will be we'll remembered at
each holiday seasOn-and it is our hope that
she will live long and enjoy each and every
one OF them.
MILFORD HAS BEEN enduring an un-
accustomed Inconvenience this Week-one
which, to say the least, has brought home to
all of our citizens the fact that action and not
words of criticism are needed to solve our
problems of power and light for this conmun-
ny. As was to be expected when the long eX-
pected break came many of the opponents Of
former City Manager Charles Z. Banning be-
came vocal. This is a SOrry example of hit
ting below the belt and d dishonest and unde-
served criticism of former public official,
who for years kept the Milford Light and
Water Plant operating efficiently at all times.
He has been out Of office for over two years
now. Certainly those in charge have had
ample opportunity to repair any machinery
which, granted for sake of argument, might
have been in bad condition when Mr. Ban
ming left office.
Under no manner of reasoning should
Milford citizens allow Il red herring to be
drawn before them in the guiSe of criticism
of any former city officials. The plant for two
years has been operated by the officials now
in control. We well remember the meeting
called by the newly y-eected Mayor and mem
bers of City Council two years ago, to which
all large users of electric current were in
Vlted. The writer was present. The meeting
opened on note of diScOrd when one of the
COuncmen arose and opened the discussion
with the statement that I'VE have Just had
city election. If YOU don't believe it lust
read the newspapers" 1t was not SO much
this utterance, but the manner in which it
was said that created a tense situation, and
caused many of the most prominent citizens
IN our city to leave the meeting Further
along IN the meeting, q man who had been
trained by one of the large electric euuip
ment manufacturing companies was intro
duced. This man opened his discussion with
the statement that 'the present machinery
and generators have been kept in operation by
the former plant manager by "Sticking them
together with chewing gum" This expert
may, OF may not, have had an ak to grind
and picture to paint which was alarming
For stranger who those invited had thought
was impartial he presented q biased opinion
AT the meeting he was greeted by some of the
City officials by his nickname which certain
ly did give the impression that he was we'll
known to them and that the acquaintance
had reached the point where all fOrmalitieS
ceased. After d long draWn-out session the
meeting accomplished exactly nothing. Users
OF current were WOrrled-and have continued
to worry during the two years which have
interviewed.
1t is true that the Mayor and Council have
taken some action to relieve the situation.
They have contracted with the Delaware Pow
er and Light Company to supply current to
the City for five-year period. This contract
becomes effective within a few months. In
the meantime the general public must be-
lieve, for nothing to the contrary has been
given them, that nothing of a Worthwhile
nature has been done to put the present equip
ment in uSable condition. Certainly when the
breakdown came on Monday evening, those
IN charge of the plant were caught unprepar-
ed to put all facilities in operation. At least
one OF the small generators, we are told, was
not ready for constant use. This is inexcus-
able from any angle.
The City of Milford has had more electric
service Interruptions during the last two