The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-22
in DOUBT ABOUT LIGHTING.
COUNCIL TO CONSIDER a MUNICIPAL
PLANT FURTHER.

Mayor MeIdrim Regards the First
Cost of the Plant Not of so Much
Importance as the Cost of Opera
ffon-The Question Discussed at
the Convention of Mayors and
CounciImen in Columbus, o., and
statistics Submitted showing the
Advantage of Municipal Plants.
Mayor Mcldrim said yesterday that the
matter Of a municipal lighting plant has
not been dropped. 1t viii doubtless be fur
Their discussed, but he has no idea what
action council will be likely to take.
: If it can be shown conclusively,' said
the mayor, that a municipal lighting
plant can be established and operated 20
the advantage of the city, then am in IA
vor of it. The special committee Of coun-
Gil, to which the matter was committed,
after studying the subject. simply reported
TWO bids which they had received for con-
structing plants, Without recommenda-
ton"
The subject Of municipal ownership of
light and water plants was discussed at
the national convention of mayors and
councilmen, held at Columbus, O., last
September, which Mayor Meldrim attend
ed. There were many representatives
present from cities having municipal light
plants, and this feature Of municipal gov
eminent was strongly advocated. Figures
were submitted Mayor Meldrim
said, 10 show that in the
majority of instances whore municipal
light plants have been established there
has been a considerable reduction in the
cost per lamp.
Statistics on street lighting by electricity
show that III cities in the United States
contain 1877 public and private electric
lighting plants, and operate 30802 1000
candle power and Il, 572 1,2O0-candle power
arc lamps, and 251 5J-candle power, AIS
S2-candle power and 1925 16-cande power
ncandescent lamps lighting 1883 miles of
streets.
OF these cities operating municipal
plants, Kendalville, Ind shows the lowest
price, $50; and Tacoma, Wash, the high
est 500 per annum for 2,000-candle power
lamps. OF those lighted by private con
tract, Cheyenne, Wyo., pays the highest
$50 per lamp.
The average weight paid for 2,00l-candle
power arc lamps by contract with private
companies for all and every night service
in twenty of these cities, is $106S5;
by municipal plants in nine cities, $685..
The average cost, moon schedule, by
contract, is $3.50; by municipal plant
$56.67.
The first cost of lighting plant is not
the most serious point to be considered,
in my estimation" said Mayor Meldrim.
THE cost of operation is the main ques-
ton. If we could be absolutely sure that
the plant would be intellgently and eco
nomcally operated there is hardly any
doubt but that it would prove a profitable
investment TO the city. On the other
hand there are the imminent dangers of
political control mismana cement and in
creased expenditures for political pur-
poses. Under such conditions the plant
could hardly prove profitable to the city.
Just now we seem to be cropping in the
dark as to what is to the best interests of
the city"
OF the two bids submitted to council by
the electric lighting committee, that of
the Fort Wayne Corporation of Fort
Wayne, Ind, was much the lower, being
only about $4,000 as against $4,000 by the
General Electric Company. Some OF the
aldermen seemed inclined to look askance
upon this bid coming from an unrelia-
Die party. On the contrary the Morning
News is informed that the Fort Wayne
Corporation has a capital of several mil
lion dollars, employs several thousand
men, and that its works at Fort Wayne.
Ind, cover several acres. The company
devotes itself entirely TO manufacturing
and furnishing electric machinery of oil
descriptions and does not take stock in
electric companies throughout the coun-
try, as is said TO be the case with its big
competitor, the General Electric of New
York.