The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-21
MAY DO ITS OWN LIGHTING.
THE CITY CONSIDERING THE CUES
TION OF AN ELECTRIC PLANT.


An Estimate That 100000 a Year
Could BE Saved On the Present
Contract with the Brush Company.
The Location of "a Plant at the
Water Works and the Use of the
Water Works Building and Power
Being Investigated.
The question OF a city lighting plant for
the purpose Of doing the city's lighting is
likely to come before the council at an
early day. 1t will hardly be brought up
at the meeting tonight, however, but may
be at the succeeding meeting.
A member of the board of aldermen, to
whom the subject of probable competition
in electric lighting and possible benefits
to the city as a result was mentioned yes
terday, replied that it might be that the
city would own it's own electric plant in
side of year. When questioned for fur
Their information. he said:
Some Of us have been quietly looking
into this thing, and we believe it would
be a splendid move on the part of the city
to put in plant for the purpose of fur
nishing its own light. We do not think
the city should enter into the business Of
furnishing light and power to private par
ties, but we think it would prove a big
saving financially if the city should fur
nish its own light. Jacksonville has such
plant and it has been operated very adj
vantageously to the city. The Jackson
vile plant does private lighting business
as well as furnishing the city lights, and
it is claimed that the city not only gets
its light free, but that there is a profit in
the business besides. We have a splen-
did opportunity for establishing such a
plant and operating it at the smallest pos
sible cost. We have ample room at the
Waterworks and the surplus boiler power
there is more than sufficient to supply all
that would be needed. There would be
no necessity for employing additional fire.
men and engineers, though it might be
necessary to add one or two assistants.
We are now paying the Brush Electric
Light Company between $4,000 and $4,000
a year for city lighting. The contract
for street lamps is about $4,000. In adj
diton to this is the lighting of the city
exchange, market, police barracks, the
stations of the fire department and other
city lighting which runs the total cost of
city lighting up to the figures just quoted.
Lighting, you see, is one of our most ex-
pensive items"
How about the cost of new plant and
Its operation?"
1--WE have looked into that" was the re-
ply. 1--WE can obtain a plant complete,
including all the equipment needed in the
way of poles, lamps and wires for not eX-
ceeding $4,000. Such a plant, I believe,
would pay for itself in four years. If it
paid for itself in ten years it would be a
good investment. The cost of operation
would not exceed 5000 year. We can
secure a good electrician as superinten-
dent for $3.50 year. The cost of an as
sistant, linemen and other labor would run
the bill for labor up to about $4,000 per
year, and other expenses, including extra
fuel and help at the water works would
hardly exceed 5000 year. Based upon
this estimate we should save $4,000 a
year. If we only saved half that amount
the investment would still be big thing
for the city Another thing to consider is
that we could readily use, and in TACT
need about so per cent more lights than
we now have, but the lights are not furn-
ished on account of the extra cost that
would be entailed upon the city. With
the city owning it's own plant this ques-
ton of cost would be a minor eensidera-
ton and lights would be furnished where
needed The city is growing and we shall
be compelled to furnish more lights, no
matter what the cost"
'9Will not there be objection on the score
of competition with private capital2'' the
alderman was asked.
mo doubt; but it is not proposed to COM
pete for private business, and no such
objection can hold against the city per-
forming it's own work where it is to the
city's interest to do So"
Have you not overlooked the fact that
Alderman Hamilton is president of the
Brush Electric Light and Power Compa-
| N.Y."
mot a bit of it, Alderman Hamilton's
private interest should not stand in the
| way of the city's advancement This is
| a progressive administration, and an in
| dependent one. We cannot be handled or
controlled in a body. If a majority of the
present board of aldermen favor this idea
| it will be carried into effect. The ordi-
nance will be introduced some time soon,
and council will be given an opportunity
| to pass upon it."
The question of city ownership of an
electric lighting plant has been more or
| less discussed for the last two or three
years The subject is an interesting one
and will doubtless be fully investigated by
council