Let There Be Light
Newspaper clipping, dated November 3, 1931.

Last night for the first time in three years, the city of Borger experienced dangerous darkened streets, harbours of crime, accidents, calamity.

     Pedestrians and motorists proceeded without security of their person and of others. There was a fire, a speeding ambulance, an automobile stolen from before the doors of its owners on Main street, and there were minor traffic accidents. All these endangered the safety and welfare of Borger citizens.

     Within another night of darkness, the Herald predicts there will be more accidents, robberies, and perhaps worse. The benefit of light as a safety factor against crime has long been proven. Police last night strained their eyes and were on constant lookout for the first signs of violence. They knew what to expect.

     At the city hall, policemen and firemen shivered over an oil stove. Prisoners had no fire and had to be released. Sanitary conveniences for officers and the jail were disconnected. Therein sprang danger to public health.

     Utilities service to the official city was disconnected Tuesday because of the city's failure to pay its bills, from August, 1929 to September 1931, the Panhandle Power and Light company presented a total bill of $16,689.43. To date the city has issued one $7,500 warrant in total payment on the principal. For fire hydrants alone, the city was assessed $9,319.59 rental and for street lighting $4,725.78, leaving these two items to total within about $1,600 of the total bill for the two years.

     Monday afternoon a representative of the Herald asked a high official of the city what action the city would take. "Why should we do anything?" the official asked in return.

     "Suppose a gang of thieves took advantage of darkened streets, a motorist killed a pedestrian, or some other accident directly attributable to lack of street lights occurred."

     "But don't you think the utility company would be sued?"

     That attitude is like calling the doctor when the patient is dead; closing the gate when the horse is lost. The official did NOT want to be quoted on the conversation.

     The Herald does not believe such is the true attitude of the city commission. The Herald does not believe the commission wants to willfully endanger the lives of Borger citizens. The Herald has faith in the city commission to straighten out the present difficulty and for that reason this newspaper calls upon all citizens here to support their commissioners tonight in meeting for immediate relief!