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6        MANITOWOC, THE CITY OF OPPORTUNITIES
                 Built by Burger Boat Co.
         Wisconsin Light & Fuel Co.
   This really and truly a "Way back when"story of the Wis-
 consin Fuel and Light Company. In 1900, a franchise was
 granted to Messrs. Henry Vits, Julius Lindstedt, Emil Teitgen
 and M. H. Dempsey, to organize and operate a Gas Company.
 The population of the city at that time was approximately
 11,000. The first year, 1901, the comvany had 393 custo-
 mers. Records for the actual consumption of gas are not
 available, but a fair guess would be about 5,500,000 cubic
feet.
   In 1907, the plant was sold to Mr. David Douglas and Mr.
 R. C. Douglas, present Vice-President of the Interstate Fuel
and Light Company. At that time there were 1,418 custo-
mers and the population had grown only slightly to about
12,500. The company went along under this management
until 1917 when it was sold to Mr. C. A. Runyan, Mr. A.H.
Ryall and Mr. L. F. Ryall. At that time the customer list
had grown to 2,518, consuming approximately 51,000,000
cubic feet of gas and the city had grown to about 16,000. In
1925, the Manitowoc pioperty became a part of the Inter-
state Fuel and Light Company and in 1928 was serving 4,536
customers and turning out more that 106,000,000 cubic feet
of gas, the population at that time being in the neighborhood
of 23,500 people.
        Manitowoc Municipal Light
                and Water Plant
  Manitowoc citizens boost and feel proud of their munici-
pally owned public utility plants.
   Crystal-clear well water is distributed to 4,400 homes and
industries from five wells having a capacity of five million
gallons per day. These wells are advantageously located-
two on the north and three on the south side of the river.
There are two submerged river crossings interconnecting the
distribution systems on both sides of the river. Steam and
electric pumps are used. There are fifty-five miles of six
to sixteen inch diameter cast iron mains, and four hundred
fire hydrants connected thereto.
  The electric power plant of 10,000 K. W. capacity is an
outstanding example of accomplishment and a barometer
of the progressiveness of our city. Fifteen years ago when
the plant was acquired from private interests, the capacity
was 810 K. W. A new plant was erected in 1917. Three
extensive additions to the plant and as many rate reductions
have been made since.
  Residence lighting rates are 6, 5, 4 and 3c per kilowatt
hour per month, for quantities, 20, 40, 40 respectively, with
the 3c rate applying to consumption in excess of 100 K. W,
H. per month. The minimum charge is 25c per meter.
Cereal Products Company