The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-10-14
MUNICIPAL LIGHTING.
VIEWS OF AN EXPERT IN OPP0Sl-
TON TO SUCH PROBLEM.
MonopoIios Of Service Should Not be
Owned by Observation-Disclosures
ofProper Management Of Affairs.

At the last meeting OF the Council
Committee on Lights estimates were sub
mitted by Colonel Cutshaw, the city en-
gineer, as directed by the committee, as
TO the costs of the construction Of an
electric plant to be owned by the city.
These estimates are still before that
body for consideration in order 10 as
certain whether IL would be advisable
tor the city 70 own such plant. ,..o,
A great deal has been SAID and written
against the problem OF making cities the
owners OF their electric light plants. A
very able article on this subject was pup
lshed some time ago by Dir. FREQ. II.
Mhipple, an authority on the maltet. ~
was published under the title, 'Munlcipal
Lighting" in practical Electricity, a
monthly, appearing in Boston,, Mass, IN
the Interests Of Investors ana the pun
chasing public Inc writer eAplalhSsim d
very clever and distinct manner why
cities should not own electric plahlS;
Among the reasons why the H.unlc,p3l
ownership of plants does not seem paIal-
lei with the interest or manufacturing
COMPANIES he states the following
I'm the case Of the municipality the
net result OF a years operation Is pubhc
property, while 1t is TO the lnttIest ~
private corporations TO Keep "lInih l'cit
own knowledge the actual out rays. ~
larger increase in the amount or SoOuS
required may also be expected from lheIh
than from municipalities. And from tAe
incidents
a municipal deal with its attendant trsln
of demoralizlng influences every COMPANY
would fain be freed. l DO not pehcNe
there Is a parent company in the country
to Municipalities. ! know some VINO nave
lost money, and | wonder that az MhoIe
thev are not ready to commit themScves
unGuahfediy and negatively upon ne
subject of municipal oWhef5illp; M lnT
time is near when they VIII be IorSeu
tn go upon record In this matter, nut
today they are vacillatnS and uhcert
tain They believe that In some cases II
would be a manifest adyaHlaee LOT 800
10 own their plant, and In other G 80,
inst as manifest a disadvantage. LueS
would like to have each case stand mae
pendently.
ADIIpIItrY AND RESPONSIBILITY.
In considering this subject from the
STANDPOINT of the public servant, ~ oC-
comes at once a quesuo,n, OF 'aaIifabPoueh
seldom considered, the element oht.i.oI
sponsibilty. The theory OF the poislt ia.
economist is that the moh0poilts ~ o.,,oIi-
ylce should be owned by the muhlelpaIIi,
~ and all belong TO the community, IN
Enr0nean countries this Idea Is carried
to a much further extent than in our own
In many English speaking community lii
the public service does not stop WIN
light, water and transit, but munlcipdi
ownership often extends to the bath, the
laundry and bakery.
RESTRICTION BY LEGISLATION.
II has been more gradual in America,
doubtless because the tendency OF tle
times in all municipal governments Is 10,
ward political ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, ana thdt
II Inevitably leads TO corruption ana de-
hatchery OF the public service. IL has
therefore become necessary 10 largely
restrict the functions OF the iocal gov
ernments by more g cneFai ies ISL na.
tiInai cLaracteristic and the ordinary
politician Is only theoretically honest.
ne recognizes moral turpltude only 10 the
extent OF dreading exposure or MS own
h3ci;sIIdings and while II he breaks the
law he nevertheless Outwardly insists
on the sanctity Of the law MunlcIpal
service can be, and ought TO be, ad-
ministered with quite as nluch freedom
from assrImption as when in the hands
OF nriVate parties. But In few instances
do we find IL so administered. We are
thus confronted win c 'i,ldi noi
theory. and I'm the munlclpal ownership
OF electric light plants this condition Is
easv OF demonstration. l believe can
trufhfully say that the experience or city
eovernments i'm this line has not been In
eli reenscts satisfactory. Starting out a
,,gar a1o as the Investigator for a large
municipality, | have closely studied the
WORKINGS Of almost every city plant, anG
with but one or two exceptions would
not now commend their operation The
naiciaIs of the smaller towns where mum
icipaI plants have been installed, with an
amount of crude ignorance OF the SUD
fnl,t tbat Is truly appalling, do not hest
tats to assert that they and the people
ave- we'll satisfied with the experiment.
hi,t I'm fhe majority Of cases these OIL
ciaIs are In Office largely thr0ugn the
n,achina lions Of rings, and 1t would not
no i'm the line OF policy for them TO de-
crv the schemes OF their associates.
THr HoU:s VARY.
r-bo Inflammation Of towns by themselves
,s ON me intermittent plan of lighting
10 bours varying so that no basis for
tlie nU len can be arrived at. The aver
co. advocate ralsnforms the investigator
h5e oiJiDo nm TO view the proportion
~. ,hana cities are doing their lighting
for a merely nominal cost, while his fig
, ,Dt are really superficial and not en-
NJ! US az, az. sunno-t They are figured on
uLeu a. ,o,diifons to suit the emergency,
Isolateu .i,b items charged to other de-
oltsn W. FOR the sake OF a plausible
partfieh'SS =, the lighting account. On one
slo"lns where 1 was called upon to
occaslon' ,ba cost OF all-night service
esufhLte e city upon its merits, my hS-
Tor IaI sIq Ter year, with interest and
ures WEI. .Gion and that / think is not very
ueprecla. Tho cost OF an arc lamp in our
FAR from nomrtinities. a strong claim IS
aVerass with the preiudiciai influence
maze ina 'that enters into their MAJ arc
or poiltIE,,S, icIpaI stations have reduced the
ment, nublic lighting In their localities
cost OF contract system.
over the often the case, also. that the
II furnished In connection with
lihgt Is ar department which bears q
some oths the Interest and depreciation