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Newspaper
Marshfield Times
Location
Marshfield, Wisconsin, United States of America
Date
Nov 04, 1908
Page
5
A survey of municipal electric plants shows failures and closures. Tawas City Michigan and Fayetteville North Carolina plants shut, Galena Illinois sold. private firms take over, costs rise slightly. Public outrage and delayed improvements noted, with criticisms of management turnover and service gaps.
Fran Carl D. Thompson a Socialist member of the Wisconsin legislature discusses a foreword to his pamphlet The Constructive Programme of Socialism and quotes Lightkoecht on gradual transition. He focuses over a third of the brochure on municipal ownership, calling it municipal socialism and the best way to accustom the public to socialist principles and methods.
The Wisconsin city voted down bonds for a high school as residents judged debt from recent utilities projects excessive. They fear municipalities investing in utilities drain funds, hampering education, parks, paving and sewerage, while private enterprises could run essential services more efficiently.
Kingston Ontario officials revealed the city has been supplying electricity to its largest customer at 27 percent below actual cost. The loss arises from a contract that would not have been possible if the city had invested its own funds in the plant.
The plan adopted in 1907 by the New Haven Gas Light Company ties profit sharing to employee ownership. It mentions employees who hold a total of 271 shares of the company's stock, reflecting a broad employee stake in the firm.
The Massachusetts Gas Companies main profit sharing plan grants 8 percent annual added value to employees with at least one year of service. Funds accrue until used to purchase preferred stock, becoming the employee’s property, with restrictions on sale. Unused balances earn 4 percent interest and all staff except the president are eligible, aiming to boost frugality and performance.
The piece contrasts European and American street railways, noting Europe’s slower, shorter runs with no transfers but lower fares, versus American lines with long hours and high quality while complaining about recent semi municipal ownership in Cleveland. It argues Americans prioritize service quality over mere cheapness.
The London Engineer reports a railway disaster in Australia with forty eight killed and 419 injured. Fire after the crash worsened the toll as victims could not be quickly extracted due to missing emergency tools. It notes Victoria’s state ownership of railways and debates safety over economy.
Aritogtan O passes the hat for ten dollar subscriptions to a fund to drill a gas well to secure fuel for the municipal electric plant. The push aims to lower the fuel bill endangering the system’s finances, with hopes the public should subscribe despite the naive framing.
The San Francisco Chronicle notes opposition rooted in fears that municipal ownership would undermine temperance or honesty in management. The label presented frames the debate around governance ethics and public accountability in city systems.
The town clerk Maia of Manchester reports that at a special town meeting the citizens voted against purchasing the local electric plant.
Seballem argues that municipal ownership is not socialist, yet Vienna has example after example of public utilities and ventures like a municipal brewery and beer hall. Advocates warn the term is elastic, used to justify government control of profitable industries for political gain.
English expert Major Leonard Darwin warned at the Canadian Club in Montreal that municipal ownership risks corruption as workers seek higher pay. He argued officials resist unreasonable wage demands to uphold public duty, fearing voter backlash and a drift toward private influence and decline in public integrity.
Wheeling West Virginia faces a severe funding crisis as municipal improvements stall after bonds fail to sell. The Municipal Journal notes bids coming in under 50,000 of the 696,000 sought, forcing a likely new ordinance, extra expense, and delayed work. Two local bidders offer par, while a Kansas City firm proposes to take on all work at a set price.
Newcastle Indiana faces rising costs from municipal water ownership. Gas wells and plant upgrades strain finances as flat-rate water usage prompts waste. Thirsty consumption drives threefold rise in pumping costs and risks of fire, prompting city officials to seek radical measures per Municipal Journal and Engineer.
A vain search in this county shows Hindson has spent over $2,000 yearly on lighting for eleven years and ran deficits. Like Wakefield, lighting is an expensive utility with no clear use of a grand $23,000 deficit. Brighton’s municipal electricity plant caused about $18,000 losses in one year, pushing three year losses past $74,000.
An article from Cairo Illinois reports union leaders and labor activists split over Taft and Bryan. Gompers' call for funds to back labor causes draws fierce opposition from several unions while others pledge support for Taft. Prominent figures from the Elevator Constructors Union and the Central Labor Council weigh in on labor’s best interests and political alignment.
Dr Turbin invites all afflicted to his office to hear his method of curing diseases. He targets those dissatisfied with other treatments and promises safe, quick, and permanent results. His counsel is free, with charges for a perfect cure described as reasonable and returnable in value.
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