Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1895-03-28
p,vloNake ElectricLightsPay

sx,,ton Clears a Profit On He'
s,o ooO system the First Year.
ties and Many Lights Yield :
y, oood Income. IAN Object Lesson
for Us.
o.. Rsndolph-and, in fact, any other
wv, wv" ,batis contemplating putting IN an
VIZ. .si. sv.tem-will find it profitable, as
e. naa iuteresting, to study the lesson Of
Ewanton. ..,,. I, ~.
:. = adopt municipal control OF an
Isctric system.
n Ill other towns, the plants were own
md operated by individuals or compa-
rss.a concerns were of course in it for
,.psss and placed the rates high enough
vieId them neat income.
~, considering the matter for some
.s sEanton decided to make radical
.arture for Vermont.
H. decided to furnish electricity to her
~ principle followed throughout has
= ~ afbe greatest good to the greatest
nbsr at the least possible cost
uaino nnder municipal control, with no
salaries to pay and no dividends ex-
-ssd ii was perfectly practicable to
~ The rates very low.
nj vas done at the outset.
Tbe rates for lights are not hall what
* average in other places where COM
1ies DO the lighting.
INDEED, the rates are so low that electric
~ in Swanton costs but very little ii
more than kerosene light.
INV was this done?
s,yirs Investigated the Swanton sys-
mta some extent, the HERALD is able
.sII int how it was done and how West
sndoph can do likewise.
N he,iu with, SWanton secured the ,
,tehIess water power at Keyes' Falls in
;,bcsts where the Missisquoi river falls
tsry torty feet, affording several thous-
ID horsepower.
a N0.hosepower water wheel was |
spsi there and a power station built /
Nh contains tuis wheel and also the
Fnauos which transform the power into
Ecsridty a
m distance from the Falls to Swanton
lags !; about five miles. Ia
rte current is transmitted this distance {
tbout Improbable loss and is more than
scisnt ior all demands likely to be '
ade upon it.
Fbe streets Of Swanton are provided I
kth eighteen arc lights of 1000 c. p. (can- !
power and the houses and buildings :
now supplied with some LOO incan-
scents Of Is &c. p.
/, is reedless to say that the service is
kacelled.
EuT in regard to the financial part.
EEsnton wisely started with the idea
it was better to have many lights at q
rate than few at high rate.
The schedule OF rates adopted was the
Eest Of any town in the country.
Here they are:-
STORES.
Zach light, So 90
u light in cellar and upper story, leo
81 Light for bath room in barber shop, 50
HOTELS.
si light in each room except sleeping room, 5 90
ing room, 400
Fsi light in each sleeping room, 2Wi
Iea extra light in each sleep ping room, col
lc1 light in bath room or water closet, 90
|eh light in barn or livery stable, 3oo
PUBLIC HALLS.
Sch light, 2e0I
)eh iOot-lIght 1e0l
CHURCHES AND SOCIETY HALLS.
khlght 90
PRIVATE RESIDENCES.
light in each living room or hall, 500
extra light in each living room or hall, so
p light in cellar, 90
light in each sleeping room, bath room
sndpantry SOL
s1aa lghtin sleeping room, bath room
and pantry, 1 90
<1Agat in barn or shed, 100
ARC LIGHTS.
zach ! 900 {, p. light to be run when
aseded for street Lighting, so 90
METER RATES.
/ "a cent an hour, to apply only to lighting
| its residences, churches, halls, hotels and
a.f Lax - L