Smyrna times., 1895-05-22
Sinking One Hundred Dollars a
Month

Inc question has been repeated,
asked: rs our electric light plan
meeting expenses?" 1t is not navin,
now, it has not done it anv time sincs
It has been put in, and the future offer
little encouragement that it will eve
be self-sustaining unless the peonl,
take hold of it. One hundred dollar
a month is now being sunk in tb,
piant, which the town must make ur
with other revenues. The TrtFs
representative wishing to know the f.
hanclal standing of the plant, inter
viewed the Superintendent of the plant
and obtained few figures.
The present cost for running the
plant is about 1870 a month-Wages
Sl1O, coal $125, interest on light bond
500, and incidentals for converters. oil
waste, wiring, etc, about SIS. Allow.
ing $50 for cost of lighting the town.
VIII reduce the sum to $24O. The ag.
gregate rents of the takers, which Sn-
perlntendent Anthony receives. aver
ages about $40 month. Subtractino
thls from the monthly expense we find
the monthly Indebtedness 500. In one
years time we are sinking 81 ,26O.
Ihls, the town will not be able to
keep up; and time will come when a
change must necessarily be effected
Are we, as citizens of the town. going
TO allow the plant to bring us in heavy
debt? The plant was put in at a great
expense, and when completed our
people glOried in our well lightei
s.reets and the great convenience of
the system. Smyrna to-day is the best
lighted town on the Peninsula and we
take pride in the fact that we have a
good system put in at reasonable
cost
Our people must give it their sup
port by taking out permits if they wish
the plant to be self-sustaining. There
VIII have 10 be more takers or def.
cheney will never be met. The rates
fixed by the Electric Light Committee
are very reasonable, and will be
found cheaper than gas or oil. The
rates, indeed, are lower than most
towns; low enough to he within the
reach of every citizen. One hundred
and forty dollars month seems TO be
very small support for town Of this
size. The plant instead of sink 500
month should be paying revenue.
Our citizens should encourage the maj.
ter more. Let us have more takers
and see if our excellent system can't
De selt-sustained. Something will have
to be done or the plant can never sur
VlVe. The condition of affairs is yerv
peIplexing to the Town Council. who
are trying their hest, by lessening other
expenses, to reduce this monthly debt
lhere are at present seventy-ive
light takers with a very slow increase
In fact, ,Supt. Anthony SAYS: In the mast
SIX months there has hardly been more |
than ten takers added to the list"
The water plant is paying a revenue
ana the sewer system, he thinks. will |
soon be in fair condition to he self |
sustaining and even more.
some members of the Town Council |
are OF the opinion that the town. in
lrder to increase the number of takers
should wire the houses free as an in.
iucement to get them.
Supt. Anthony on being asked if he
aVored such movement. said. he
would never advocate it. The town
would get further in debt than before.
t would be no little expense to wire
he residences Of the town. and he
hought the idea a very unfavorable
me Should the town wish to offer an
nducement, he believed the Council
ould afford to give the material for
lghllng at cost, but that the takers
Mould pay for the work done"
Inc matter of making our excellent
ystem self-sustaining should agitate
he mind of every citizen and a co.
peration on the part of all TO effect
he movement. Let the number Of (
akers increase from seventy-fve to
ne hundred and fifty and when our
liant gets in a sef-shstaining position
Will not only relieve our Town
ouncll of great deal of unnecessary
'0Grry, but our citizens in general will l
IKE pride in the fact that the plant is
a good financial basis. ]