The record-union., 1897-10-31

Grand total up to October /, 100.
1897 ..............-...-..--..... -SozSo II
From this showing of the magnitude
of cost Of operation Of municipal plants
in Sacramento, and observation of the
fact that the motive power for practi-
cally all Of June, all Of July. August
and September, was furnished by the
Sacramento Electric Gas and Railway
Company, whereby the expense for mo-
tive power was 81, ,240 for four months,
as against s., ,235 OF for the preceding
four months, and without any account
of what the fuel cost for half of De-
cember. 1896, and all of January, 1897,
it will be manifest TO any one that 1t
is a waste Of time to talk of operating
a steam plant for the purpose of gen
Grating electric energy in this city. 1t
win also be borne in mind that prior TO
June /, 1897, by action Of the Board OF
Trustees, a contract was let and re
sponsible bond received for operating
the whole sewer pumping plant by the
year for $70T 81 2-3 per month, and
that by reason Of the action of the
Mayor, the contractor was compelled to
relinquish his contract. The figures
given, and all the figures obtainable
are given, show that the average cost
Der month for operating this plant Of
two hundred horse power is 1913 30, or
S10.479 90 per annum. 1t will also be
observed that if it were not that the
city had obtained motive power other
than steam, it would have cost at least
one-third more per annum.
BY reference to the report from Fort
Worth, Tex, given above, it will be
observed that the entire cost of fuel for
the whole year was only 1898 10; while
at the S-street sewer pumping plant,
with a total of two hundred horse pow
er capacity gust enough to run 200 2OOO
arc lamps or forty less than the
present city supply the coal bill was
S779 13 for part of the month of Feb
ruary. and for March it was $1,316 81.
For April it was S159 95, while for May
it was 1852 81, or 500 24 more for May
than Fort Worth paid for the entire
year. 1t will also be observed that the
item Of freight is given separate when
it should be added to the price of coal
From all these figures it is apparent
that either Sacramento municipal bust
ness is not well managed, or else there
are conditions Of prices and material
existing in the different places cited,
that do not exist here.
I regret that I did not make inquiry
as to whether eight hours time was the
prevailing rule on public works in the
various cities, as it is my understand
ing that such regulation does not OBJ
tain to any considerable extent, and
that, therefore, a single shift or crew
is all that is employed upon any public
plant referred to.
Of
Me, there is no expense at all for pow
er. It viii also be observed that in
those cities having the lowest figures
there are local considerations appar-
ent that in a measure account for such
prices; as for instance, the possession
OF water power without additional cost;
the low price of fuel; a less number OF
lamps Of the same power; and with
the exception of Rockford ILL.,, sufficient
difference in population to justify the
belief that a very much less area OF
territory is occupied, demanding CORE
spondingly less plant.
In none Of these cases do they give
any figures for interest or depreciation.
From these figures in other cities and
the fact that the S-street sewer pump
ing plant is only kept from grotesque
expenditure by reason of the presence
of the very power that is assailed, it IS
clear that If a municipal lighting plant
We're established here it would cost at
least one-third more for lights than 1t
does now, and I trust I will be pardon
ed for suggesting that instead Of vast
ing energy in endeavoring to destroy
established enterprise and involve the
city in useless expense, that the char
ter be amended so that contracts may
be let for a length OF time sufficient TO
afford a reasonable opportunity for bid
ders to save themselves on city busl-
ness. and there will be no question but
that prices will go stin lower and the
4axpayers be allowed to keep their
money in their own pockets.
All of which is respectfully submitted
L. T HATFIELD,
Sacramento, Oct. 30, 1897