Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 85, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 February 1912 — DAY CURRENT NOW REALITY [ARTICLE]

DAY CURRENT NOW REALITY

“Juice” Was Turned On Thursday Morning for First Time . METER RATES NOW IN FORCE And Eights Hereafter Will Be on That Basis—Several Parties Will Use Electric Power, s j ■ ■ I II I l< Rensselaer entered upon a new era ’ Thursday, when its municipal light plant was put on a 24 hour service, or a continuous day and night service. The day current, of course is intended chiefly for furnishing power although the lights can be used if desired for any pur- ' pose, the patrons, being on a meter J basis, paying for what “juice” they , use—the only equitable manner df . operating a light or water system, i While Monticello, Brook and FowI ler have had a 24 hours or continuous service for two or three years, , such service is in the nature of an I experiment in Rensselaer and, as I our plant is under municipal ownership and is only destined to be operated on a cost basis for the benefit of the people of the city as a whole, our light and power rates should be much lower than where the plants are owned by private individuals on corporations and operated on a dividend or moneymaking basis. The rates now in force are, The Democrat believes, too high, and as soon as it is learned just what i revenue is derived and the cost of i operating under the continuous service, the rates can no doubt be materially reduced. The city council believes —and they are probably right in this —that it is easier to lower rates than to raise them, and if the revenues justify they wijl be reduced as soon as it is positively known just what income can be expected under the new service.

I J. L. Brady, at the Brady elevator; is the first user of the power service in operating his elevator, but W.- J. Wright will have his passenger and freight elevator in operation in a day or two; perhaps today, in his furniture store. The Democrat expects to have the service installed in its new quarters ready for operation by March 1, and James Willis will put in a motor for operating his machinery in his garage.. Several others expect to put in motors in a very short time and the service will no doubt grow in popularity. and use providing the rates do not prove too steep, and it will be but a brief time until the revenue more than pays the city fsr the extra operating expense of the day current.