Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-12-19

make the franchise valuable should receieve a share of benefits and the municipality in which the institu- tion is located should receive an ade- quate share of the profits.
 Water. gas, electricity, all, in so far as the public is concerned, is inyaria- bly, in the form of monopoly. The very nature of the case makes this a necessity, and if there is to be a mo- nopoly in these lines is it not emi- nently fair and just that the people who create and foster this exclusive possession should share insthe prof it's?
 The ownership of water works and light plants by cities is rapidly passing beyond the experimental stages. All cities, with whom have had the opportunity to confer, own ing their own water works and light plants are satisfied with their condl- tion, while those who do not own them. like Pine Bluff, are out of sor ts and cussing some water and light company. As evidence of the success with which the cities of this and oth- CT countries are meeting through the wnership of public franchies, will sight the readers of the GRAPHIC to once instance, (and there are many of the same kind), which I have had occasion of late to look into. In 1876, some twenty odd years ago, Marshalltown, Ia., city about the size of Pine Bluff, decided to put in 8 municipal system of water works. In due time the work was satifaeto- rily completed. The last report of their water commissioners show that the plant has paid all expenses and interest on the debt as well as all costs for extensions and repairs, and in addition to the use of 100 fire hy- drants free of cost, has placed in the city treasury several thousand dol lars as net profits. At a subsequent date the question of municipal own ership of lighting plants was agitat- ed. The city at the time was under contract with q private light compa- ny for tho use of sixteen arc lights for which they were paying the enor- nous sum Of $1S00 per annum. Fi- nally on January 1887, after more than two years of agitation, the city decided to put in it's own light ing plant. Already owning the wa ter plant, the same boilers that sup piled the pump engines with steam were used for supplying the engine to run the dynamos, thus saving con siderable expense to the new plant. The total cost of the light plant when ready for operation was $16,000 and has a capacity of 150 arc lights. The city has paid out since the electric light plant began opera tions, April 1888. $29, ,l22.0S; of this amount $16,000 has been for original material and cost of constructing, leaving only $1l ,l22.07 for running expenses and repairs covering a peril cd of ten years, or about $1122 per year for running expenses, added to which Is interest on bonds, salaries and coal, $1,713, making a total of g., ,S35.
 Thus 1t will be seen that the city of Marshalltown has had the use of ninety eight 1900 candle power lights at a cost of $2,S35. per annum. or S29.50 per light per annum. For fear some one may doubt the figures I will state that they come to me certified to from the City Clerk of Marshalltown,I Ia., who states that the records are open to any one for inspection.
 The experience of Marshalltown ought to make every citizen of Pine Bluff 8 believer in municipal owner ship of both water and light fran- chises, and influence them as we'll to reach out and get the good things of this world, which sometimes can be had for the asking.
 Respectfully,
 n