The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-11-15
FOR MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP
ct an Electric Light P1ant--fiow It Worked at Des
Moines, Iowa.
Address by Major John Mcvar Before Mayors Convention al
Columbus Ohio--A Splendid Plea for Mu-
nicipal Ownership

/ I the Fort Wayne Electric company, as well
as TO electrical engineers and CONTRACTORS
was aware that two OF these companies
were interested In our local plants. Dut
expected to find some Of them looking for
d market for their machinery ! was fore
warned by reputable engineer that there
were two sourccs from which would be
likely to acquire Information OF question
able value.
First. from manufacturers OF appli-
ances, who either desired to sell machin-
cry. or elise had friends In tho business
to protect. and In either case are likely
TO give biased information; second, from
| parties already operating plants. II is
fnquently the case that the conditions
are SO different that their experience is Of
little value. and sometimes actually- mis-
! leading"
This proved wise Information, and had
the. evidence accumulated been sub
mitted 10 mn unbiased tribunal, the de-
oison must have been that We could not
hope to improve our condition as to street
lighting by municipal ownershop or by
municipal control.
From but one electrical manufacturing
company did get any encouragement
The General Electric company advanced
considerable information, which, they as
sured me was from an entirely dislnterest-
ed standpoint. Among other matters they
sent me a copy OF "F'rancisco's Fallacies
OF Municipal ownership" and Fosters
Public Lighting by Municipal Ownership
II estimated the cost OF erecting a 800
1000 candle power arc lighting plant at
not less than s250,0o0, and might reach
s35Go0O, and that We could not hope 10
operate 1t at an expense less thnn we were
then paying under contract. and advised
us to continue to patronlze the existing
local companies, The Brush company adj
Fised me that there was too much politics
connected with operating muldcipal plants
TO allow Of success tan exceedingly I'M
Kind lnsinuation).
However. We received some encourage.
ment from engineers and contractors, ais
well as from the officials of the cities OF
rockford aud Springfield, H., who quoted
from their experiences.
Despite the discouraging information re-
ceived. we invested In the services OF
a reputable engineer who submitted es-
Inmates and specifications Of n high grade
modern plant with a capacity OF coo 1000
candle power arc. and 1900 Incandescent
lamps. The plant. when completed. was
% operate 500 arc lamps and 1900 incendos-
,ont Tampa.
when the bids were opened we were
isreeably surprised TO find that the low
st received came within the estimates OF
Plant, complete tcity to furnish site).
loo'ooo' with an agreement to operate the |
'amo for period OF two. Ave or fifteen
ears, lamps to burn all and every night. |
or 800 per annum, and for each additional |
amp thereafter. $50 per annum.
me city having no money. the contract. |
RS offered the following terms: The city |
0 pledge s5b, 600 per annum from It's light |
nS innd for maintaining and operating
far t.r,, -.
months, AT the end OF this period the con-
FACTORS would deliver the plant to the |
NY for the nominal consideration of 81.
'hey also agreed to epfer into contract |
o operate 1t thereafter for fifteen years. |
~ ana every night, at not TO exceed S65 |
'er lamp. second proposition, which |
vas considered the better and accented. |
vas that the contractors erect the plant |
ma operate the same for term OF two |
ears at the rates above named. the city |
o levy 2-mlll tax for which the law I
rovlies, to operate the plant for one yenr
nd TO apply from Its general fund the !
mount usually appropriated for street |
lghting purposes for two years These
wo funds VIII be sufficient for the pur-
hase and operation OF the plant. The
ontractors agreed TO continue TO operate
he plant thereafter for term OF Ave !
r fifteen years at mot to exceed the above
wv anu outItu 10 substitute for arc
amps. wherever the council desired. tn ir
lofse-powe capacity in iucandescent
amps.
During the period leading into this con
ract the local lighting companies and their
riends were not Idle Before the contract
.as made II was necessary to submit TO
Nc people at an election the question of
neither or not the council should be au
norlzed 10 acquire n municipal lighting
liant These companies made n vigorous
ampaign to defeat the question. money
nd political influence being freely used
ne result was victory for municipal
wncl~hip by vote OF nearly three ia
ne every. precinct voting favornbly, aud /,
one suburban precinct only one vote
as cast against the question This re-
UT, ins'ructing for large Investment
the city at time of the most severe
uslhess depression ever lpaown, speaks
olumes for the sentiment OF tho people
an Intelligent community upon the
Aestion OF municipal ownership.