The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-11-13
ELECTRIC LIGHTS.
what q Prominent Man snys Of Mu-
nicipal Ownership.

From City Government.
The superintendent OF the police tele-
graph bureau OF Brooklyn, +. C. Mason. In
an interview in the Brooklyn Eagle, has
this to say OF municipal ownership OF cleo
trio lighting plants:
'At the fifth annual meeting OF the
Northwestern Electrical association, held
In Milwaukee on January 70, central STA
ton electric light managers and electric
ians seemed to have lost their heads over
q discussion OF municipal ownership OF
electric lighting plants. There was some
plain talk INDUCED in, and that many were
troubled about the condition or affairs IL
evident. but the remedies suggested to cor
rect the evils were few. The most promi-
nent OF these was q resolution which prac-
tically amounts to boycott OF manufac-
tureis who sell supplies to equip and main
tain municipal electric light plants. During
the discussion The fact was brought out
that in one instance a private plant fur
nishing light to a city and private con-
sumers originally cost $780, 900 to construct.
II was bonded for $500, 900 and stocked for
5000 900 and It's notes were OUT for $lOO,-
900 Is 1t q wonder that progressive men
In city government In many OF our larger
and wide-awake communities are insisting
upon municipal ownership Of electric light
ing plants? 1t Is a fact that arc lights or
for % cents per night at a profit If prop
erly managed and figured from first cost
basis. All agree that 1t would be the
height OF folly for city TO depend upon
private corporation to furnish and main
tain fire alarm or police patrol telegraph
syten. such as is now In use in this cry.
II Is also conceded that such a system
could not be run rs economically or as
reliably as 1t now is by the fire and police
departments. | am convinced that many
OF the private plants erected in the pas.
were the result of msnformation as to the
true conditions involved and that II tile
question were to be aubmitEed to the voters
at the present Time large majority would
declare for municipal ownership In cities
where private companies are now coming
money from contracts, the companies An
many Instances being bonded and stocked
for ten times heir original cost
THE hasty conclusions of the North
western Electrical association are, flrst.
that legislatures should grant no power
to municipalities to erect and maintain
lighting plants for general use, unless
where franchises have been given the own
ers OF tho same shall have been remun-
Grated" and, second, that honorable
manufacturers will not sell to municlpali-
ties until these steps have been taken.
and central station men can not AFFORD to
deal with manufacturers showing them
selves thus disnJnorable.
II claim that Individual municipal plants
have shown good results and Will continue
to show good results as long rs they ara
properly managed To my mind the proper
and feasible way to counterfeit the present
tendency is to naugurate campaign Of
cducauon to look up each case, and by
the dissemination of authentic information
ay to actual cost, etc, place every voter in
position to form his own Judgment I'm the
matter"