Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-10
Municipal Lighting Plants.

To the Editor of The Evening Star:
The statements made by Mr.. Campbell as
to the benefits to the public of municipali-
ties owning and operatin their electric
light plants Can be confirmed by more than
one hundred and twenty-five instances in
the United States.
AS stated in the report of the East Wash
ington Association, January, 1884, accord
ing to the official report of the state board
of Massachusetts,. in fifty-two cities and
villages of that state the average cost of
LOO to LOCO C. p arc lights was but $S5.64
In thirteen cities east and west which
own their own plants the average cost was
but $57 "A.
l have before me the official report of the
electric commissioners of South Norwalk,
Gonna non-political board-which shows
that, including the total expenses, new con-
allowing 5 per cent for depreciation. the
cost of 1,4OO C. p. arc lights was In 1895
s64.53 and for 1894 1923
Detroit has erected a municipal plant,
and Mr.. Dow, the engineer in charge,
writes that, including all expenses, and al
lowing the usual amount for deprecia ton,
their arc lights cost $7.0S for October and
VIC for November, or an average of sS5.0S
per year. They have been running only
about ten months. and hence have not pub
lished any official report yet.
Municipal ownership of lighting plants
both electric and gas. is no longer a ques-
over and over again, both in this country
and Europe.
We have only to look at Alexandria, right
here at home; Richmond Va, and Phila-
delphia, to see the benefits. Including the
gas used for lighting the streets and public
but dings. Richmond in 1893 realized a
profit from her gas works of $121, $3.50. So
and she has a population of only one-thiri
of that of the District. Philadelphia real
ized a profit Of almost 50, 00O, 900 from hers
and the same Is true. in greater or less pro-
portion, in every city where 1t has been
tried.
Europe is far ahead of us in these mat
ters, but our people are beginning to wake
up to the advantages Of municipal owner
ship.
Congress ought to provide for municipal
| ownership of gas works here. Gas can be
furnished here for 10 cents per 1000 feet,
and pay handsome sum into the District
revenues besides. For the past six years
gas has been furnished by a private COM
pany In Philadelphia for 81 cents per 900,
the city works not being able to supply ali
that is needed for the city and the outlying
suburbs. With the new methods and i'm
provements of-late years, gas can be made
very cheap-far cheaper than by the old
methods and companies.
AS to electric lights, Congress should at
once pass the bill for acquiring the Great
Falls water power, and put in plant there
In accordance with Col. Elliott's report
With the improvements recently made
there Is no trouble in conveying the cur
rent tnat distance, as IS SHOWN by the fact
that Sacramento, Cal. is furnished with
current which is brought nearly double the
distance.
We ought to have not only the streets
but parks and alleys, made as light as day.
However cheap electric lights may be, there
will still be a large demand for gas, not
only for interior lighting. but for heating
and cooking, for which purposes 1t would
now be used far more extensively than 1t is
but for the cost at present rates.
w. c. DODGE