Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, September 13, 1909, Page 1

% THE B Fair of '09, Bemidji, Wednesday, Thursday and Fnday, CMIDJ1 DAILY September 15, 16 and 17, PIONEER VOLUME 7. NUMBER 125. BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA, MONDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 13, 1909. FORTY CENTS PER MONTH. COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER THE FRANCHISE TONIGHT Will Listen to Reports of Joint Council-Citizens’ Com- mittee, Which Visited Hudson, Stillwater and Red Wing.—Statement Given Herewith. Commercial Club-Citizens’ Committee Recommends Sev- eral Changes in Proposed Ordinance.—President Kirk Thinks Bemidji Is Offered Better Than The Other Cities. At the regular meeting of the city council to be held this evening, there will come up for final consider- ation and possible adoption the matter of the granting of a franchise to and entering into a contract with the Wafield Electric company of this city, owners of the electric light and power plant. At a recent meeting of the council it was agreed thata joint committee | should be appointed, and should be composed partly of members of the city council, the balance to be selected by the taxpavers and com- mercial club. President Kirk and Alderman Gopld were chosen to represent the council and Messrs. T. J. Burke and W. G. Schroeder were selected at a mass meeting of the taxpayers and members of the com- mercial club, The committee went from Bemidji to Hudson, Wis., and Stillwater and Red Wing, Minn. Commercial Club-Citizens' Commit- tee's Statement, In submittiug their report to the council this evening, Messrs. Burke and Schroeder will report practically as follows: “'In combining all the information received during our visit to Hudson, Stillwater and Red Wing, we submit as follows: “In our opinion, the following clause should be inserted in the proposed new franchise and contract: “The life of the contract should be reduced from fifteen to five years. “There should be a schedule price per horsepower per annum for manu- facturing purposes. “All buildings should be wired strictly in accordance with the national code as suggested in the letter received from Mr. McLeran. (The letter is given in full elsewhere in this issue of the Pioneer). “A clause should be inserted giving the city the right to reduce the number of incandescent or arc lights at any time during the con- tinuance of the contract; and in case the city should reduce any cer- tain number of lamps, payment shall be reduced in the same pro- portion. “There shall be a clause providing for the cutting of the wires in event of moving buildings. “In our investigation we have found that there is absolutely no charge, in the cities visited, for meters. “We find that the latest,up-to-date franchise and contract is that of the City of Red Wing. “From experience of Red Wing, as related to us, and from perusal of the contract offered to the City of Red Wing by the power company operating in Red Wing, we would suggest the followinz changes in the schedule of rates in the new franchise and contract prepared for the City of Bemidji. *Flat rate—change from $1 to 75¢ per month for 16-candlepower incan- descent lights; change from $1.25 to $1 per month for 32-candlepower incandescent lights. Change from $7.20 to $6 per month for arc lights, 2,000-candlepower (so-called). “The maximum charge for com. mercial lighting of 9c per kilowat hour for 75,000 wats or under; a minimum charge of 6c per kilowat hour for 75,000 wats or over. “This is practictically the same schedule of rates as that which will be employed in the new contract proposed for the City of Red Wing, with the exception of the price of arc lights, the Red Wing contract calling for a charge of $56.20 for all arc lights used in Red Wing. ““On this basis, the city of Bemidii would be then paying $1.30 per month more for arc lights than is to be charged in the proposed con- tract for the city of Red Wing. “All city officials consulted acknowledged that the most essential clayse in a franchise of this character is the one for power for manufactur- ing purposes, and the only city which has incorporated this clause in its franchise is the city of Red Wing; the others admitted that they made a grave mistake in not having this particular clause inserted in their franchises. “Another very material matter which w e found in the cities visited was that electric franchises and electric contracts with thecity should N SECURITY ought first to be attention. considered in the selection of a depository. The First National Bank offers the best of security to its depositors in the shape of $500,000 of clean, unimpaired, quick assets and demands good and stable se- curity from its borrowers, vites your business on a conserva- tive banking basis, whether large or small, and the special persoal attention of its officers is given all matters intrusted to its care and It in- The First JNational ‘Bank of Bemidji be two separate and distinct in- struments.” The Commercial Club-Citizens’ committee wrote to the president of the Grand Forks city council as to what had been done in that city rel- ative to electric franchises, and in response the president of the council emphasized the matter of franchises in the following language. “I will add, do not tie up the city to a franchise; that would be a burden to the people on a common necessity—light.” In commenting on this matter, Messrs. Schroeder and Burke say: “In our opinion, there is no par- ticular objection to a 15-year franchise; but there is a serious ob- jection to a contract with the city of more than five years.” President Kirk's Statement. The day after returning from the trip of investigation to Hudson, Stillwater and Red Wing, George Kirk, president of the council, said in part of the trip: *“The joint committee visited Hud- son, Wis., Stillwater and Red Wing, Minn- “Hudson owns its own electric light plant; it is operated by a power plant which also pumps the water used. “The rates at Hudson are some- what higher than those here. Hud- son pays $238 per month for light- ing the city; and Bemidji pays $333. Hudson has more arc lights and not so many incandescent lights. “Stillwater, with a population of 14,000, is paying about the same as Bemidji. They granted a thirty- year franchise. Their arc lights are of 1200-candlepower; ours are of 2000-candlepower. Their incandes- cent lamps are of 25-candlepower, ours are 32-candlepower. A con- tract is made every five years, inde- pendently of the franchise. This cannot be done here without chang- ing the city charter. “Stillwater burns forty arc lights {and 313 incandescent lights. “The prices at Stillwater are prac- tically $5 per year for 1200-candle- power arc lights, and $12 per year for 25-candlepower incandescent lights. “A flat rate is given to consumers of 10c per kilowat for residences, with a discount of one-third if paid before the 10th of the succeeding month. “Stillwater is ‘up against it’ in the matter of its waterworks system, which is owned by a private com- pany. “We found Red Wing in an un- settled condition, with a deal pend- ing for the transmission of power from Eau Caire, Wis., forty miles distant. “Red Wing’s old tranchise ex- pires 1n 1911, “Red Wing now has 52 arc lights and g8 incandescent lights. Twenty-one of the arc lights are in the business district and burn all night; thirty-one in the resi- dence district are kept burning until midnight. The 98 incandes- cent lights are in the residence district and are run on the mid- night and moonlight schedule. “Under the franchise Red Wing pays at the rate of §7 per month for arc lights, or $84 per year— for 1200-candle power arc lights; $12 per year for 16-candle power incandescent lights, Both are higher than Bemidji’s. ““All tactories in Bemidji are run by electric current, at $1 per horsepower per month, and 3%c per killowat hour for all current consumed, with J;c discount per killowat if paid before the 1oth of the month. “Taking all together, and compar- ing other cities visited with Bemidji, we are offered better service, and at a lower rate, than in any of the cities visited.” Alderman E. J. Gould,who accom- panied President Kirk as the council membership of the joint committee, when seen today, conicided with the last statement made by Mr. Kirk, MRS REMOVED St. Paul, Sept. 13.--3:45 p. m.---(Special fo Pioneer,) --Just Prior 1o Iaying for Rochester today to undergo his fourth surgical operation for appendicitis, Governor John A. Johnson filed an order re- moving from office A, W. Danaher, chairman, F. 0, Sib- Iy and Wes Wright, com- missioners of Beltrami county. The governor is taking further time for the considera- tion of the charges against Gounty Auditor John Wilmann, that, comparing other cities visited, Bemidji is offered better service, and at lower rate than visited. in the cities Inspector Makes Recommendations as to Wiring, T. J. Burke, of the Commercial Club- Citizens’ committee, has received the following timely communication from J. B. McLeran, inspector for the Board of Underwriters for the district of Northern Minnesota: ‘“Duluth, Minn., Sept. 7. “Mr. T. J. Burke, Bemidji, Minn. “Dear Sir:—I have your favor of the 2nd inst. Your supposition that there are many buildings in your city that are not properly wired is correct and this doficioavy, 4o yor know, brings an addi- tional insurance tax and s a vizal hazard to your whole community. It would cer- tainly be a very favorable piece of legis- lation if the requirement could be put in the franchise that all buildings should be wired strictly in accordance with the national code. This you understand is not specially a fire insurance requirement as the code is constructed by the best electrical talent that the country possesses and it grows as their knowledge grows from year to year. The insurance com- panies, of course, have a representative upon this board but their rules are for the common protection of the people. “In addition to the proposed amend- ment to the franchise, your city should have an amended electrical ordinance and a competent and honest city elec- trical inspector, one who is not controlled or dominated by the parties selling elec- tricity. “If you desire, I will procure for you the requirements of this city. They are scattered through the different laws and are not published in pamphlet form collec- tively, consequently it will take some time to procure them but they shall be secured if you desire to have them. “Yours very truly, “J. B. McLeran, “Inspector.” Letter from W. N, Bowser. In response to the request from the Commercial Club-Citizens’ committee for suggestions as to what would be a good rate, etc., W. N. Bowser has written the following letter: “W. G. Schroeder, Esq., City. “Dear Sir:—]I offer the following sugges- tions for the proposed electric light franchise: “Sec. 1.—Change to read ten years, instead of fifteen, and provide for cutting wires in case of removing buildings. “Sec. 3.—Flat rate change. [Continued on Last Page.) TIIE LUMBERMENS HHIUHAL BANK BEMIDJI Man Killed; Horribly Mutilated. M. E. Ibertson, coroner for Bel- trami county, was a visitor at Farris Saturday, whither he went to look over the body of a man who had been run over-and killed by a Great Northern train, the visit being made at the request of Dr. Desmond of Akeley, the official coroner of Hub- bard county. Mr. Ibertson states that the body was found on the railraad tracksa short distance east of the depot at Farris, the injuries inflicted by the train being of such a horrible nature hat identification of the unfortunate man, from the appearance of- the deceased, was absolutely impossible. Several people living at Farris were of the opinion that remains were those of H. J. Seeley, an elderly man who has been fishing in Wolf Lake, near Farris, the theory being that Seeley had been to Cass Lake and while walking to Farris on the G. N. railaoad tracks had been struct by the west-bound G. N. train, Saturday morning. The body was turned over to an undertaker sent by Dr. Desmond to prepare the remains for burial. Mr. Ibertson beleived that an in- quest was unnecessary, as the evidence was very plain that the man had been killed while walking on the railway right-of-way. K. of P. Meeting. A regular meeting of the K. of P. Lodge No, 168 will be held at Masonic Hall Tuesday evening. Sept. 14. There will be work in third degree as well as other im- portant business. This will be the opening of the fall and winter work in Pythian order, Every member is requested to be present. Visitors welcome. —D, D. Miller, C. C. —G. A. Walker, D. G. C. SPEAKERS OF REPUTE TO SPEAK AT GOUNTY FAIR Tuesday, September 16th , Is “Farm- ers’ Day” at the Beltrami County Annual Fair. September 16 (the second day of the fair) has been designated as “Farmers’ Day,” and an especially attractive program has been arranged for that day. Ransom A. Moore, professor of agronomy in the University of Wis- consin, has been engaged to speak on that day. Mr. Moore is an ac- cepted authority on agronomy and he is so recognized by agricultural authorities all over the oountry. Mr. Moore was given special mention by J. J. Hill in the famous address which the . railroad magnate de- livered before the Minnesota legis- THE FALL TERM OF COURT TO CONVENE TOMORROW - Not Many Cases of Importance on Civil Calendar.—Likely Number of Unimportant, Long-Standing Criminal Cases Will Be Dismissed. The fall term of the district court for Beltrami county will open in this city tomorrow and the term is quite an important one. The term will be presided over by Judge C. W. Stanton, with Lee LaBaw as court reporter and Chester McKusick as'county attorney. H. W. Alsop of the Town of Birch will act as deputy clerk of court, assist- ing Clerk of Court Rhoda during the term. The court calendar, which has just been issued, shows forty-four personal property tax cases, cita- tions for which have been issued and served, and the defendants must answer at this term of court. There are also four real estate tax cases which will also, probably, be up for trial at this term of court. There is nothing very important in the civil calendar, with the ex- ception of one case, that being the Namokin Lumber company vs. the Rainy Lake River Boom company. This case has for its principal con- tention the boomage right on the Rainy river, near Baudette. The case has twice been to the supreme court and each time a new trial has been granted. The case which is on for this term is the second new trial for the district court. The outcome of this case means much to the parties involved. There are seventy-six cases on the civil calendar at the present time. Many of these have been continued from former terms and it is more than likely that the majority of them will be quickly disposed of. There are thirty-seven cases recorded on the criminal calendar, involving different classes of crimes, but there are no murder cases on for this term of court. Quute a few of these cases are of long standing, having been con- tinued from term to term and it is more than likely that a number of the criminal cases, which are really. trivial affairs of long standmg, will be dismissed. The cases listed for assault, include crimes adultery, forgery and obtaining money under false pre- tenses, trespassing on state lands, rape, selling liquor = unlawfully, malfeasance in office, and also in- dictments for wrongfully omitting to pay over to Beltrami county money received by parties as public officers. There are no indictments of record against any of the county officials who have been given a hearing by Governor Johnson to answer to charges preferred by Deputy Public Examiner Kain, and against whom the Twin city papers {and Mr. Kain so states in his report) claimed in- dictments had been returned by the last grand jury. Clerk of Court Rhoda is of the belief that the term will not be a prolonged one. Who's Afraid. A Grand Rapids correspondent of | the Duluth News-Tribume(we opine thatit is “Tony” Lafreniere of the Grand Rapins Independent) writes the News-Tribume tbat the Grand! Rapids football enthusiasts are organlzing a team of fast players again, with J. O’Day as manager, and adds: “Games will be arranged for with Bemidji (providing they are not afraid), Cass Lake, Hibbing, Vir- ginia and Eveleth and Coleraine. J. O’Day has been named as probable manager.” The above, is penned by “Tony,” is certainly ‘‘nerve,” personified. Last year, the writer tried every mean possible to get a game with the Grand Rapids team for the Co. K team, after the ‘“fluke” defeat given the locals, but was given hot air about putting new players into lature last winter, at which time Mr. Hill called particular attention to the development of the agricultural sources of the northwest. Mr. Moore’s speech will teem with valu- able information on agronomy. Professor A. J. McGuire of Grand Rapids, superintendent of the North- east Experimental farm, has also been engaged to speak. No man in the state of Minnesota is better qualified to tell the farmers what are the proper methods to pursue in profitable dairying and farming in northern Minnesota. Mr. McGuire has achieved phenominal success at the experimental farm and he has given valuable assistance in develop- ing this section of the state. Prof. Thomas A. Cooper, professor agricultural at the University of Minnesota, and A. D. Wilson, super- intendent of Minnesota Farmers’ Institutes, have been engaged to be present on “Farmers Day,” and will deliver speeches on farming, enrich- ing soil, animal husbandry, etc. While these ~two gentlemen are, personally, very little known in this section, they are thoroughly con- versant with farm conditions here- abouts and will have something good to give fair attendants. All of these speakers will welcome questioning on farm pursuits, and have readily ‘consented to come to Bemidji and assist in making the fair of ’09 a big success. Additional local matter on last page. the game, etc. Should these two teams meet this fall, on neutral territory, where both can have every chance to win, the writer will wager a few dollars (we’re not a millionaire) with the writer of the above that Grand Rapids does not win. The editor of the Pioneer has per- sonally done all possible for clean sport in this ‘“neck o’ the woods,” and we don’t like these insinuations of being “afraid,” etc. They smack too much of the tough order. The people of Grand Rapids and Bemidji have every reason to be on the most friendly terms, and no one should countenance anything that savors of “dirty sport.” While one member of the Co. K team last year did acts that were anything but becoming of a gentlemen, the entire population of Bemidiji does not sanction that kind of treatment to visitors. The local players aver that this same local player was given a similar deal at Grand Rap- ids, a week previous—and there you are. By all means stop this “dirty” work and fire the first player (local or visiting) who offends, is what tbe writer shall advocate, from now on. Let us have clean sport. Waterworks Running again. The work of repairing the dam- aged main on Third street, at Be- midji avenue, is progressing. Street Comnmissioner Miller states that he has so arranged matters so that water will be shut off only on that part of Third street between Bel- trami and Bemidji avenues; and a temporary line has been put in for the use of houses on that block. ‘H. E. Mack’s Stirring GCreat Cast! CITY OPERA HOUSE ONE NIGHT ONLY WEDNESDAY, Sept. 13 Direct from Lyceum Theatre, Duluth. rce & Co. Present Willard “INWYOMING™ Prices---25¢, 39¢, 50¢, 75¢, $1.00 SECURE SEATS WELL IN ADVANCE AT CITY DRUG STORE American Play=- Big Production! MlNNESO TA TISTORICAL SOCIETY. ® |