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THE PLATTSMOUTH JOURNAL TRADE EXPANSION SECTION.
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PLATTSMOUTH
THE plant of the above Company was purchased in January,
1913, by Messrs. Abbott and Eaton, acting as agents of the
Continental Gas and Electric Corporation of Cleveland, Ohio.
From the time the Plattsmouth Company was turned over to
its present owner in April, 1913, a system of comprehensive and radical improvements
has been inaugurated and actively prosecuted. vThe Continental Corporation is also own
er of the York Gas and Electric Company, at York, Nebraska, and a number of other
electric properties in Western Iowa. Among this number may be mentioned Red Oak,
Shenandoah, Malvern, Villisca and some smaller towns in the same vicinity. The parent
company's plan contemplates a connection of all these companies by transmission lines,
so that any one of the various power houses will be available during a period of necessity
for use on the line for all the different plants. At the present time the Company has
something over 100 miles of transmission lines diverging from its Red Oak plant.
The Company has expected, and still hopes to further develop
its business in Nebraska, covering all available territory west of here, and to build an ad
ditional power plant at Plattsmouth. The building of the power plant has been postponed
temporarily on account of an attempted invasion of this territory by a foreign lighting
company, which is asking for a Plattsmouth franchise. The electric business of this com
munity will not justify the operation of two plants owned by different companies. The
business men of this city have had a demonstration of this statement in the operation of
two telephone systems here. Neither company offered effective service until their consol
idation was made about two years since.
It is the wish of the Continental Gas and Electric Corporation
to give Plattsmouth just as good Electric and Gas service as any town of any size has, but
if other corporations are allowed franchises here for exploitation purposes the city will be
the sufferer as may be readily seen by even the most superficial observer. One company
can maintain an adequate plant and give all classes of consumers what they want, and at
a proper rate, while two companies will fill the field in a manner unsatisfactory, to all.
If is not difficult to see that the object of the EV2ciinley company
is to sand-bag some one sufficiently to compel the payment of a tribute
to the Traction Czar of Champaign, Illinois.
