The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-29

70 the cost OF city electrical plant,
now that the question has been raised
in Scranton, is well illustrated in the
discrepancy bstween the estimate OF
the electrical committee Of Philadsl-
pliS's councils and tAAt Of Chief
Walker, Of the electrical bureau, Of
the same city. Mr. Walker calculated
that it would cos; to establish an ex-
perimeutsl 40O-light plant in Pbila-
delphia SlO),jlO tbs joint committee
which has Just concluisd an iuvssti-
cation OF tuis interesting subject has
reported that such II plant could
not under ordinary circumstances be
built for less than $25l, 1853 Proceeding
upon this as a basis tue joint committee
haS decided adversely upon the propo-
sition to establish a municipal plaat.
alleging that under municipal control
each light would cost iS IS cents per
night. whereas under the existing
contract with the Brush company this
cost is only 80 cents,
It will strike most observers tina;
this discrepancy Of $ljI, ,2j3 between
estimates is too large 10 be honest.
Either the inquiry upon which Nj
Walker founded his calculation has
been hurried AMI inadsqlste, or elso
this must be taken as trus concerning
the joint commuters Investigations
Whichever suppolitioa b. correct, it
is evi!en. that i; Scranton intends
to 20 into the electrical business, in
competition with private enterprise,
there is need % much further and more
careful study Of tue question than has
set been accorded to it, It should Oh.
vioualY o. an important public bsnefi:
that would inducs this municipality to
arrogate TO itislf in any unusual man
uer the functions o; private business
and sucn benefit, II it bs diseerned at
all, must rest upon substantial ground
We cannot afford to ls: it rest upon
any haphaz4rd foundation OF guess
work like that exhibited 10 this Phila
delphia contention,
While THE TRIBUNE has no desire to
prejudice this discussion, it is simply
fair to the Scranton Light, Heat and
Power company to say that i: offsrs de-.
cidedly better terms than appear in the
Philadelphia joint councilmanic com
mittse's figuring. Where that commit
tee declines to pay S25l 7O3 for 400.
light plant, our people would. for
about the same sum, get an S6O-ligh'
plant, in good working condition
equipped with the bsst machinery.
having over 100 miles OF wire already
strung successfully lighting 4l0 city
lamps and supplying in the nsighbor
hood Of 800 commercial patrons. AuC
We would have to pay only $4,000
down, leaving the remaining $500, 0O(
Of indebtedness to run, IL desired, fol
forty years The system employed il
the Brush. generally conceded to be tbs
best, and the quality OF tho engines
dynamos, machinery, etc, is repre-
ssntsd by the company officials to b,
very desirable.
Yet, as We have said. all this maj
not have any relevancy II the city
could do better by building an entirely
new plant, 1t should not permit Mr.
Scranton's offer to stand la its way
provided It really proposes to 70 intC
business for itself. Should it add th'
function Of business manager to il
other fuuetions1 Should 1t compete. Of
try to compete with individual enter.
prise2 Does 1t anywhere appear tha
it would gain enough in dollars and
cents to justify this iar-rsaohing ex
perimentl These are the question:
now before tho people and now 10 tn
time for the gdisoussion to wax warm
No PRESIDENT has ever been success
ful and, what Is more, no president cal
bc suCcessful in carrying water on botl
shoulders Mr. Cleveland must eithe
confront the inhltioui,tI with n reso
lutte veto or elSe give himself over en-
tirely to tho free silver theft.