The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-09-16
Az IIECIKIO LIGHT PLANT.

Alta meeting Of the Committee on Light
held on Thursday evening, Mr. Noble
moved that measures be taken for Sc
curing an estimate of the cost Of con
structing an electric plant TO be owned
by the city. His motion was adopted.
We hope this movement will stop right
ut this point. The city does not want an
electric plant. 1t is for her interest to
buy what electricity she wants from pri-
yate companies
The great objection TO the city owning
an electric plant is that II is n form of
paternal government. The less govern
ment we have and the more all the affairs
Of life are left TO private enterprise the
better ii is for all. As soon as business
enterprise is undertaken by government
It's management becomes a matter of
politics. Its offices become places TO be
striven for in elections. and generally
get filled. consequently not with men
best qualified TO administer them, but
with the men who are able TO secure
most votes by Illicit means. The result
is the elections are debaGchod and the
Government secures a worthless ser
want. All such establishments become a
haven for political hcelers and ward bum
mers. That Is the great and the over
whelming reason why the city should not
own an electric plant. She had better
pay private parties more for her cleo
tricity than It would cost if manufactured
by herself than TO add another almshouse
for political bummers to her municipal
establishment
But experience proves that cities can
CHI
yate parties than they can from their
own establishments. The Electrical I'm
gineer publishes "a series of tables on
the cost of lighting in cities, as the re
suit OF an Investigation. These are all
deliberately reviewed by the New York
Evening Post of September 18th, and the
conclusion is arrived at that they show
that the advantage in Cheapness is on the
side of private electric companies. And
this, Notwithstanding the fact that In
the reports from private companies which
have been obtained allowance is made
for depreciation in the plant. while no
such allowance is made in those furnish
ed by cities.
Again the city is in no condition to
undertake the expense of erecting an
electric plant. Our debt is as large as it
should be-too large in fact. We are
threatened with the necessity Of having
TO spend considerable money in providing
"a larger supply of water. and every dol
lar that we can spare ought 10 be spent
ON streets and sewers. The city, We re
peat, is In no condition TO undertake such
an outlay as would be required for an
electric plant Further, the science of
nd
IN its infancy. improvements IN the
methods of these are going on every
day. The entire system IS liable 10 be
totally revoiuuonizeG at any time. We
may set TO work TO build a costly plant.
and before II is completed such improve
ments may be made as will make 1t OBJ
solete.
We conclude with the following ending
OF the Posts article already referred
TO:
ON the other hand. the difficulties and
annoyances of city ownership are SO
great as 70 make decision against mu-
nicipal ownership the only proper one
unless very decided advantages appear
Thus the Detroit Tribune. speaking OF
the situation in that city. SAYS:
After the lapse of one year the CITY
finds itself with an elaborate white Gle
plant on It's hands. The people cannot
fail 10 realize That the creation OF the
new department has simply increased the
opportunity for more wrangling IN the
city government. and the facility with
which private parties may control public
affairs TO suit themselves"
The whole matter IL well summed IN
In the Des Moines Register. which re-
marks that while municipal ownership
may not be wrong In principle and while
the theory Is very alluring. II is likely
in practice. with the conditions now ex-
listing In city politics. 10 prove more dis
astrous than desirable.