The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-07-24
OWN ITS LIGHTS.
b Committee Reports on
1nnicipal Control
- ogpAR RIVER WATER.
nup Wv e tie echeme-
zno1s 1scommsndastsaa.
- oGpAs RIVER WATER.

4n1g Observation-Disclosures
- ne1al eouncu ce@miftee appointed
s @1f11s 3 report On the feasibility Of
- - s1opting . lighting system and
800 . central supply station for
10rur1ni and private lighting, In CON-
sz511o Nth the Cedar river water aer-
sSss rr10or1ay died . volumluors ard ex-
-. export with tho city comptroller
<an thar views on the subject ana
5 ~ rrafs Of che extensive inquiries are
~ - Ct considerable length The re-
- ~ Of the city council and heads
~ nr1meuts to Portland when the new
IT, III system was examined. an well
~ oInn1 At the General Electric Com
- = Oregon City. has been beneficial
80 Usys IN finally shaping the ideas
= - focal council a. to Q number Of pro-
- ~ the city's improvement that
i - ox<femely embryonic. to quote q
y the rcport. until 6cattle's Official
- 49, opened IN the Webfoot netfop-
- o. Of the effects In observed In the
- manner fhat projected improve
80 - being taken up, despite the
- ut rigorous overhAuiinG OF the
. osances II the present order Of the
he embarrassment. however. being
lrmporary. II IL not ut all amiss to
s ~ those projects that viii contrib
hGDoiy TO the employment OF labor
- ~ REDUCTION Of the taxes OF prop
- 1uness. the lack OF payment OF
- holng the only reason for the pres
= Ugingsncy. In this report the COM
- iScts arrived a. are the result OF
nG1ble correspondence Of q most
41n9 nature with many honorable
- 81 secretaries OF Eastern ana
- cities. Your COMMITTEES have
H1,ntnG evidence Of = practical ma
DGfch II embraced win curtaii the
- ef lighting the city to less than
- current prices on last year'e
- and st the szme time be pay
go plant. and that the Cedar river
6otem and the municipal owner
~ light plant IN full force, will,
II 1lolant period, wipe out our pres
>o11o6 debt and finally bring in .
- - selisye our overburdened peo-
1T eommitkse were greatly SUR
- y 80 the extravaganf margin by
n4 In other cities. Wheat. corn.
nl6m ETC., are nearly uniform all over
~ ho4 while electric lighting has q
- We herewith append IN average
= ll0n Diants. operated by contract at
~ pof arc light. against the munich
= r(hting Of those same eleven cities
a. 6Yprage being Ss1.sf per arc light per
NJ, ond with better lights.
4 1sn quite natural that your COM
1istpo Shonld ask tho question. How II
III public plants are a'ble to make such
uenm6eus savings over contract pricesT'
n anoNer II a. follows:
Ihpt-A public plant DOES not have to
~ dividends on watered stock.
spuond--It does not have to pay divi-
ta6 even ON tbs actual investment.
s1hird-A city having It's corporation
eeunsal need not employ attorneys or lob
>9I1lA eubserfhe to campaign funds or
~ . IT, rivals
yburth--Tt does not have to advertise
- seiIcit business.
sUnh-Jf frequently saves by combsn-
r. efhsr departments
h mayor Of Dunkirk says: Our city
~ IL water plant, and the great saw
~ comes from the city's owning and op-
eofinG both plants. No extra labor Ii
nQieed bur q line man. The Same en-
Qntefs. nremen and superintendent OPP
eslf both plants
Tour committee in view Of these con-
Adrretions, can not expect lighting COM
pea>ee 70 furnish as cheapiy as the mu-
nk@elIty, but at the same time feel that
tQatracfs have exceeded Just remuneration
90 b many instances stopped 70 extor-
tea
d our own deliberations w. have con-
aatrtd that while our first duty should
#fttrenchment. stiil 10 obtain a rheapiy
tenstfucted plant. one that IL not OF tina
~ modern pattern. would be poor policy
msmuch 81 Mr.. Edison has perfected his
- hcandescent lamp. which has a bril-
l1nfy and capacity twenty times greater
mta those now I'm use. A number OF cit
- Fere considered that own plants. but
s1efs cities that do a commercial business
~ The most successful. among which are
43aHy, Me-: Batavia, ILL.,: Council Grove.
IA Crete. Neb.: Middleton, Pa: OK
~, o.. and ST. Paul MINI. all OF which
vain their city lighting free by furnish
~ q few commercial lights.
Economy In this Instance can ne over
- as some cities show that they have
roeed the prices too low BY charging
NJ which have a tendency 70 run cap
~ cut OF a city. while they should only
mysrn or regulate capital. feeling II Is
>lller for all parties interested 20 make
{ nederate profit from the public light
- svssem. Thus gradually but surely
9stloping the plant on a safe basis until
ATinx taxes 10 pay for street lighting VIII
= regarded as lingering relic Of an en-
eyoaic age.
With the Cedar river and lighting
llAAf paid for. and an Influx o. revenue
nan both these resources. the question
y sardensome taxation will have been
saysd. The municipal ownership Of city
f10hftSw h e. IA 1.
batter az experiment. but a real tangible
net
The possession OF municipal plant by
IN city means more. via: A better Svs-
Nn Of lighting a greater degree 81 beauty.
eomfort and iuxury IN every home. not
exeepf'ng the poor Of cur city. with lights
furnished them az the rate Of four for a
hilar. as given by Tacoma. II means
Hceperf,y. ana a low rate OF taxation
xh'th viii al once invite the eEnigrsns and
rrsnTer % our city. II nseah- thousands
z aoiisrs saved annually. which II r. the
operative duty ~ this honorable body TO
Af:saie for.
Therefore. your committee recommend
nas the sense az the deliberations are
81 a. the Cedar river Is rlpcd down 10
~ e'y. the reservoir and house shall Re
serssracsei as 10 receive proper
IN, ira, viii be necessary 70 generate
seesrfeity for municipal lighting. Also
al llgating plant be constructed ready
sKat the city AZ tire same time ths
ss'sr plant Is completed. And that the
ey engineer be Instructed 20 obtain an
ssasts OF Turbine wheel dynamss.
see etc. neetes % furnish ne city with
es.setosi lighting.
TIE committee also recommends mat
e eesrorstion counsel he requested 20
ssoesit a. rs next meeting TIRE legal steps
-eeasfry booking 70 the municipal owner