The record-union., 1897-10-31
CITY ELECTRIC PLANT.
Can Sacramento Afford Luxury of That
Description?


asked for after the introduction of the
new supply, the city received benefit to
the extent of even 50 per lamp per
month. Within a short time CONNER
cial electric lighting was at prices that
enabled the citizens of this city to pre-
sent what is now known throughout the
coast as the best lighted city of all, and
the number Of incandescent lights in
residences is not exceeded in any city
of the same size; and Notwithstanding
the price of gas has been reduced 1873
per cent the increase in electric lights
is continuous
Are these features not worthy of con-
sideration? Suppose that three years
ago the city had installed municipal
street lighting plant, and the Folsom
power had not been utilized in bring
ing it here, would the citizens of Sac
ramentO have had the lights and COM
fort they now have at any such fig
ures as they now enjoy? / say, no.
1t is notorious that one of the pros
pective objects of the Folsom power
development was the municipal lighting
of this city, and the securing of that
contract with such great benefit to the
city resulted in immediate and sui
stantial benefit to every citizen. In
addition to this direct benefit to the in
dividual citizen and the public gener-
ally, there is the feature of increased
industrial development in other lines,
and the capital TO produce it has not
come out of the pockets of the citizens
of this city, but is new money that 9TH
erwise would have found investment
elsewhere.
With this brief review Of the econom-
ic features of the case and the sugges-
ton that no municipal mechanical plant
can be operated any cheaper than a
private enterprise of the same nature,
/ will take up the matter of the figures
heretofore given by the Mayor and 9th
ers tending to indicate better rates
elsewhere than here, and the claim that
such better condition arises from mu-
nicipal ownership.
For the purpose of obtaining greater
details as to the cases cited, addressed
communications to officers in the cities
referred to, and I have responses from
practically all of those whose prices
were given as the lowest. Some officers
did not reply, while others did quite
fully After getting these replies and
dIdIyZ lHtlll, L nave up Il uC'
tailed statement of the cost of those
plants and their surroundings and alsC
Of the original cost and maintenance
| of the Sacramento Waterworks, and the
S-street sewer pumping plant, and
give them herewith. coupled with Other
comments as to length Of time contracts
are let for in the most favored localities
| and information as to cost Of fuel.
Springfield, Missouri-Private plant
Population 25,000. Five year contract
| Has $50 1000 candle power arc lamps
| Fuel coal at power house. 50 per ton
| Moonlight schedule Cost per lamp pei
| month, S6 80. Mayor Hubbard's figures
| the same.
| Bloomington. Illinois-City owns
plant Population, 25,000. Has 307 2,0Ct
| candle power arc lamps. Fuel. coal a
| power house, 81 65 per ton. Cost O.
plant estimated, $S3, ,O00 Cost per lamI
per month without interest or depreci
alton, 81 80. Mayor Hubbard's figures
| So per lamp per month.
| Davenport, Iowa-Private plant. Pop
ulation, 10000. Has 415 1000 candl,
| power arc lamps. Fuel, coal at powe
| house, 81 % per ton. Fifty lights al
night, 365 moonlight schedule. Price
| 81 &c per lamp per month. Mayor Hub
| bard's figures, the same. Report t
me October u, 1897, says present price
are the result of bitter competition, re
| sulting In prices that put contract int
the hands of an incompetent, irrespon
sible company, and that a large mum
| ber of citizens have filed petition witt
the City Council asking that the presen
contract be annulled. Time of con
tract, one year.
Topeka, Kansas-City owns plant
Population not given. Has 1S4 2,0G
candle power arc lamps. Fuel, coal a
power house, 50 per ton. Cost of plant
exclusive of building and lot, 1,0W
No calculation of interest or deprecia
ton Total cost of operating plant pc
year, $10,363 So. Mayor Hubbard
figures, 81 IS per lamp per month.
Marshalltown, Iowa-City owns plant
Population 10000 Has SO 1000 candl
power arc lamps. Moonlight schedule
Fuel, coal at power house, 81 30 pc
ton. No figures on cost, interest or de
probation.
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania-Priv
plant. Population. $1,000. Has 31S 200
candle power arc lamps. Steam an
water. Fuel, coal at power house, 81 =
per ton. Also have water power frol
a canal in the center of the city. Price
81 % per lamp per month on five-yea
contract Mayor Hubbard's figures,
per lamp per month.
Binghampton, New York-Prfvat at
plant. Population, $4,000 Has 800 2,00
| candle power arc lamps. Steam. Fue
coal at power house, 81 So per tor
Price. SO 10 per lamp per month o
three-year contract. Mayor Hubbard
figures. 50 per lamp per month.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio = Private plan
Population. $4,000. Has 351 1000 car
die power arc lamps. Steam powe
fuel. coal at power house, 81 10 pc
ton for slack, and 81 90 per ton fo
frst-ciass coal. Price So 33 1-3 pc
lamp per month. Mayor Hubbard
figures same.
Rome. New Yorl-Private plant. PoI
ulation. 15,000 Has 159 1000 candl
power arc lamps Six years contrac
Steam power; fuel. coal delivered b
canal at power house for 81 30 per tor
Price per lamp per month. 81. Mayo
Huobar6's figures the same. A lette
from the City Attorney OF Rome say
their charter formerly limited cor
tracts to one year, but they obtaine
an amendment authorizing six-yea
contracts. and the first bids were one
third less than before.
Spokane Falls, Washington-Priv
plant. Population, $4,000. Has =
1000 candle power arc lamps. Wat
power in city limits. Five-year cor
tract Price, 81 per lamp per month
; Peoria. Illinois-Priyate plant. Poi
i ulation, $1,000. Has Ais 1000 cand
power arc lamps Three-year contrac
| Steam. fuel, coal at power house. 81 :