The Monitor-register., 1896-02-21

MO0dsf0Wm
/ The advisabiIity of having electric
ljebts in Woodstown has for some time
been a meeted question, and Of late quite
a sentiment has been aroused in favor OF
such public improvement, though some
are non committal because they are not
quite sure that our citizens are ready 70
move unanimously in the matter, and
they do not want to urge it until the
people arss,fuify ready, although they
believe that Woodstown ought to have
such an improvement, both as matter
of convenience and necessity.
Most towns the size OF Woodstown
have some means of public lighting, and
it is quite rare to find town of any size
and enterprise to day that has not
electric lights. 1t is but keeping in line
with the general progress of the times
and affording the essential conveniences
and inducements for the location of those
seeking home and the Investment of
capital in business enterprises. And
while all such enterprises and public
Improvements require the expenditure of
money, without, perhaps, returning so
much directly to the peoples pockets,
yet indirectly they afford corresponding
benefit to the town in the increased valua-
tion of property. Only glance around
us is needed to confirm this statement.
Two pieces of property, consisting of
house and lot, containing about half an
acre, the property in good repair, were
offered for sale last week in Harrisonville
and only bid to $110, wbile.property of a
better grade sells for about $700 or $500
| The same class of property has just sold
in Woodstown for $1400 and $1,000. Why
this great difference? Is it not to be
found in the public improvements, con-
veniences and business enterprise that
| has increased the value of property in
Woodstown over our neighboring viii
lages? If not, what has brought about
this tremendous gain? And if this result
has been reached by our present public
Improvements, is it not likely that a
judicious move along the line indicated
will still further add to the value of
property here? And the increased value
augments the assessed value, SO that it is
possible to raise the needed public money,
without materially increasing the tax
rate, and we now have tax rate below
some of the surrounding townships,
/ which have no public Improvements
whatever, and as low as any in the State,
SO that there is no immediate occasion for
alarm from this source.
| The chief difficulty, of course, to be
overcome in putting in an electric light
plant, having secured the consent of the
people, (and we hold that it should be
done by the borough in its corporate
capacity, and not by private corpora
tioD; SO that the people may have the
benefit in decreased cost from whatever
may be made in operating the pant) is
to raise the money to purchase the plA1t.
This can be done by an issue of bonds,
which can be floated for four and half
per cent no doubt. Those who have
been at some pains to carefully investi.
gate the matter, inform us that the
borough could put in plant Tor about
| $40, 600, the engine house at the water
works having been constructed with
view to such contingency, and has
sufficient room for an extra engine and
dynamo. Beside, we are informed that
an extra boiler is necessity.
The interest on the $40, 900. the cost of
| the extra coal needed, and the wages of
| help, according to the same estimate,
would not exceed $1,000 per aunum. To
offset this sum would be the 5000 about,
that it now costs for street lighting by
| the oil lamps, and very inferior light it
iss ionfibB GOou1 ptVO w OC coCuI0u ilOu
users of the light, and certainly every
store in the town would want such con-
| yenient light, and especially SO if it
could be furnished at a cost not greater
than that of oil lighting. One of our
leading merchants says it now costs him
500 per year to light by oil, and it is
estimated that his store could be lighted
with electric lights for not more than this
sum and perhaps at less rate. Count
up the stores, and see how soon the $500
| will be provided for, with all the private
residences that would use it as an extra
| margin.
Further than this, we are informed that
the oil lamps used fo- lighting the streets
are giving out and unless electric lights
take their place, will soon have to be re
placed at cost of SO or So piece. 1t
would certainly be unwise to spend any
money for oil lamps.
We present this matter at some length
for the purpose of affording information.
in order that our citizens may consider it
and come to the caucus meeting to
express their opinion and act as their
judg ment may di3tate after a careful
consideration, for the question will no
doubt be presented for action at that
time. We are all seeking the highest
good of the people and the prosperity of
Woodstown, andsssbeing united in the
| attainment of this object is worthy our
highest ambition.