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Show LIGHT AND. POWER IMPORTANT ISSUES Taxpayers Should Decide Upon Some Definite and Substantial Policy at Once. Former Mayor Thatcher says it is a Most Vital Issue. From time to time The City Municipal Light Plant has been the subject of more or less consideration, and it would seem that there is no time so opportune as the present for each and every taxpayer to give it a thoroughly thorough-ly thoughtful overhauling; The plant belongs to the city. The taxpayers own the city. It is an asset of the city, and the taxpayers should look well lifter their assets. In private pri-vate affairs extreme care is taken so that the work of today will meet the exigencies' of tomorrow. Wear and tear and general deterioration is 'provided for, and the assets of the thoughtful individual are always in an attractive at-tractive and healthful condition. In public affairs the necessities of today are frequently put off until tomorrow. in consequence of which assets sometimes deteriorate until they are very much below par. In the case of the City light plant, our officials have all done well. They have used the means at hand to good advantage, but the plant will not run along forever without replenishing, and its inadequacy is something that has been evident for some time. In fact the light question in Logan City is a big burning issue that ought to receive the careful, conservative, con-servative, boiled down thought of every taxpayer without delay. Not next week, not next month, not next year, but RIGHT NOW. During the past two years the officials have been confronted con-fronted with accidents, breakdowns, and difficulties that beset plants and machinery after years and years of wear and tear. True they have been'successful in patching up, but there will come a time when the "hole will wear through the patch" and then the end will come. The editor of this paper recently had, the pleasure of an extended ex-tended interview with Former Bavor Preston. A Thatcher on this matter. Mr. Thatcher isxtremely interested and senses the situation very keenly. l He -agrees with us that it is a taxpayers' matter that should be considered now, and when asked for a statement for the benefit of his former constituents, he dictated the following: The troubles of the City plant are just commencing. com-mencing. For fourteen years it has been in operation opera-tion and has made a phenomenal run, a truly wonderful won-derful record, but it cannot be expected to run and work forever without being ket in thorough and complete repairs. With the water question disposed of, the light matter is the most vital issue before the people of' Logan today, and as a taxpayer, interested in Logan and her welfare, I am of the opinion that the taxpayers should at once get busy and determine determ-ine upon some definite and substantial policy. Three solutions are open. First, the easy way, going leisurly along, milking the plant dry, without food or fuel for upkeep and repairs, and voluntarily going out of business with a pile of worthless junk on our hands. Second, the sensible way by rehabilitation rehabili-tation and repairs, bringing the plant up-to-date, together with the appropriation of sufficient funds to build an additional plant, making the entire system sufficiently large and adequate to care for the needs of the city for many years to come. Third, to sell the present plant and distribution system sys-tem for the best price obtainable. It requires no argument to explode the fallacy of the first, as it is evident, that should it prevail, the plant will soon be a thing of the past, and the taxpayers tax-payers will be holding a sack filled with outstanding outstand-ing interest-bearing bonds in the sum of $68,000, and buying light and power from private corporations. corpora-tions. The second is feasible and sensible, but to be carried out will require a large amount of money, and in case the taxpayers are not willing to provide the money, the third is the only logical solution. Either the second or third method of solution should prevail, and should be determined upon without delay. The entire matter is a question for the taxpayers taxpay-ers to solve. Fortunately the law places the matter I in the hands of the taxpayers, and it is a question wherein the majority rules. It would seem to be opportune that the taxpayers at once decide the I matter. If a majority want to retain the plant, I sufficient funds should be provided to rehabilitate i it and provide additional units to make it adequate for the city's needs, otherwise it ought to be sold, and if such is the verdict, it ought to be sold while the selling is good. I would favor the calling of an early election, giving sufficient time to thoroughly thresh the matter out, so that the taxpayers may determine upon what course to pursue. |