Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-12-17
MUNICIPAL LIGHTING.
Mayor KiIduff Not Satisfied with IN
Rates Paid by waterbury.

Mayor KiIdun Mos Satisfied with th-
Rates Paid by Waterbury.
Mayor Kilduff has been interviewed in
reference to the notice printed over his
signature in the newspapers calling the at
tention of the public 10 the fact that some
important changes may be brought be-
fore the next session of the Legislature
which will be of interest to Waterbury
taxpayers. Some of the subjects referrca
to have been thoroughly discussed in the
city boards and through the newspapers.
namely: Authority to issue bonds
for the funds necessary for the compleii m
of the new water supply and also for the
proposed sewerage system. The matter OF
asking that the county commissioners be
requested to pay over to the city instead
of to the town the amount received f"r
licenses is an old theme of Mayor kilduft =
and he has repeatedly referred to the ne 4
of some changes in the method of assess
ing benefits and damages to property
owners. The reference to the city doing
its own lighting is what has called atten-
ton to the notice. for il seemed to lie
| something new to some people. The
| mayor furnishes figures to show that he
knows what he is talking about. He says:
LAS to the matter of authority for the
manufacture of gas and electricity for
municipal lighting. am strongly of oplu-
/ lOh hlah the aCt DhsScu pl tue last ktutIhl
| assembly in this connection should be Re-
pealed. The act is almost tantamou7t to
prohibition and is shaped to protect exit
ing lighting companies as against the ia
terests of the public. II provides in the
| first place that before n city takes steps 10
maintain its own lighting plant the pro.
| ject must be approved by a two-third-
vote of each branch of its common cou, .
ell and receive the approval of its may oi
for two consecutive years and that this
action must afterward be ratified by a
majority of the voters at the annual CITY
election. When such vote has failed Of
ratification il cannot be again brought be.
| fore the voters until year has elapsed.
have no doubt that when the advantag. .
and benefits which would come to the city
| by the maintenance of its own lightif,A
plant were clearly set before the pub.il
that the above provisions would be easily
met. Bot the act goes on to compel a.,
city before establishing its own
plant to purchase existing electric
light plants If the owners desir,
to sell. The price the city would
be compelled to pay would he the
poses of its use. including as an element
of value the earning capacity of the plant
based on its actual earnings ut the time al
the city's final vote to do its own lighting
Every city in the state is handicapped hy
this act BY the present contract with tht
Connecticut Electric company. which eN.
pires. believe. in the early part of 1926
the city pays nearly s24. 900 yearly for 1t,
lights. There are 179 arc lights, twc.
thirds of which are supposed to be of >
600 candle power. For each of these the
city pays 80 cents n night. irrespective OF
| the candle power. There are also thirty
incandescent lights for which the city pays
s25 year apiece. The city could con.
struct plant with a capacity of 300 lights
of full 1909 candle power for about SIS .
600. The yearly outlay. including inter
est, operating expenses and depreciation
of plant. would be $4,000. saving of
$1,000 annually with largely increased
lighting facilities. 1t is for the interest OF
every town. city and borough IN Connect
cut that this act should be repealed. Mu-
nicipal lighting throughout the state is
bonnd to come; it cannot be held of foI
many moro years"
The mayor said any citizen could have
filed the notice and was done so that in
case bonds for any such purposes men.
toned in the notice might become necrs-
sary the city will be in position to issu
them in legal manner.