The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1954-06-10
AN OPEN LETTER
TO THE PUBLIC
TO SELL OR
NOT TO SELL
PAGE FOURTEEN


we can never get it back. 1t is
far too serious a decision TO base
on past grievances, petty CON-
plants and personality differ
enceS.
Let's not make a mistake
similar to one made about
twenty years ago when the sew
er system could have been had
at a fraction of its present cost.
We are now paying dearly for
that lack of foresight. Let us
not pass on such legacy to the
next generation.
Ohio Power states they ex-
pect to spend S466, 500 plus over
100000 for improvement on
the Bluffton system. Public
utilities are allowed 6%o net
profit on their investment. By
selling the electric franchise to
them we, in way, agree to pay
interest of at least $4,000 an
nually for at least the next fifty
years. Can Bluffton afford a
contract such as this? We are
now paying only an average of
2.3S@o on bonded debt.
Many people are being confus-
ed by the issue of the sewer
debt. This debt was contracted
before there was any thought
of selling the power system.
Sewer assessment will not cost
the property owners any more
over a period of years than the
increase in taxes and water
rates which will be necessary if
the town is required to pay the
electricity for street Lighting,
Christmas lighting, Buckeye,
water and sewage system. None
of the profits of the power
system if owned by Ohio Power
would remain in Bluffton.
The Bluffton Electrical dis
tribution system can be gradu-
ally replaced my our own resi-
dent workers. Ohio Power will
send gangs of outsiders into do
the work. How many BlufftOn
residents are or ever have been
employed by the West Ohio Gas
Company? How much of the
money paid to the gas company
ever stays in or returns to
Bluffton?
BlufftOn has been seryiced by |
four utilities. Our own elec-
tricity and water systems pub
licly owned and publicly control
ed. Gas and telephone owned
and controlled by outside inter-
ests. In the past ten years which
have given the best service and
had the least increase in cost?
Just how much protection does
a town like Bluffton get from
the Public Utilities Commission?
Nearly all the reports from
the towns, who have their own
distribution system strongly
recommend we should keep con-
troll of our distribution system.
A recent survey was made by
QUESTIONABLE sent to officials of
towns serviced by Ohio Power.
To the question "Should we keep
control of our distribution
SYSTEM" the answer over
whelmingly was ''By all means
keep it,"
Carey, a town very similar to
BlufftOn has been buying power
wholesale and distributing it for
many years. They have had a
steady source of town revenue
from it. They have lower resi-
Dental rates than Ohio Power.
Their industrial rates are as low
as Ohio Power.
Bowling Green, also purchases
power wholesale and distributes
it. In 1852 they had a profit of
over S100,000.00.
There is no question that the
larger plants can generate cleo
tricity cheaper than plant the
size of BlutftOn. Witness the
local W0odcOck Plant which is
gradually being replaced by Ohio
Powers larger and more eco
nomical plants in Southern Ohio.
However there is no reason why
BlufftOn can not distribute
electricity as cheap or cheaper
than a large utility company. In
the distribution lies the greatest
profits.
The BluiftOn Power Plant has
been a success since it was first
started. Any business which has
done as it has i'm steadily grow
ing the past 81 years, maintain
ing a credit so it can borrow for
expansion, pay its bills prompt
ly, meet its loan payments when
they are due and still show a
profit is certainly success. The
only tax assessment ever made
exclusively for the plant was for
$4,000 at the original formation
of the electrical system.
Actually Ohio Power rates are
very little lower than Bluffton's
present rate. Compare the rates
yourself! If the amount of cleo