New Iberia enterprise. (New Iberia, La.) 1885-1902, 1899-08-05

s
Water closets, private, self closing
| faucet ... .................. 81
| Water closets, public, hotels ... ! O0
| Water closets, public, restaurants ! 00
| Water closets, public, saloons .... 00
Water closets, public, stores ........ SO
Water at stand pipe. per barrel l..... o5
| Sprinkling streets and sidewalks, not
over 40 feet front. not more than
- street ......,.... ....... .-...... | 0O
| Sprnkling streets and sidewalks,
| over 10 foot front for each addi
tional front foot ..... ............ %
Tho ordinance also provided that n
special tax of | IL mills on tho assessed
valuo of property in the City OF Lake
| Charles should be leviod for ton years in
| aid of the contract, Tho ordinance was
| thon accepted and passed November 6,
| 1891
The plant, according to the ordinance
| consists of two duplicate compound pump
| ing ongnos to have an aggregate capacity
of GOO, 600 gallons of water in - hours,
| capable of being increased to 1000, 900
gallons, two boilers of 1i5 horse power n
| stand pipo lG feet in diameter and 10 feet
high, 5000 feet of l0-inch main, 500 feet
| of S-inch main and 5000 feet of G-inch
main.
January 2G 1891 the council entered
into contract with firm to supply the
city with electric lights. This firm has
since bcon merged into tho water sup
| ply company, so that the water and
| lights of the city are supplied by one and
the same company.
| The contract as originally made provi-
ded that tho city would rent from tho
grantees named in tho franchise not less
| than five are lights ut $50 per annum or
| their equal of candle power in incandes-
| cent lights at $24 per nnnum each. 1t was
provided further that the grantees would
| furnish additional lights mt, for the first
| twenty lights. $50 for the next twenty,
| f55 and for tho next twenty, $50 oacb.
Under this contract additional lights
| have been addod until tho contract calls
for $2i0O per annum for lights.
The water mains have been extended
and additional fro hydrants have been
rented until tho total amount TO be paid
by the city for water amounts to $13d0 per
nnnum. Or n grand total per nnnum for
| lights and water amounting to $6740.
Such fabulous figures as these have in
moro than one city called tho attention Of
tho people to the fact that water and lights
are an expensive luxury and usually tend
to absorb the revenues of municipality
| to the detriment Of all other public i'm
prOvements, and have caused much inquiry
to be made regarding the municipal own
ership Of such plants.
| Many cities are acquiring their own
plants and the experience of every one OF
them has been that towns and cities can
save money for the taxpayers by so owning
them. It not only furnishes water for fire
purposes at much lower rate, but to the
individual consumer the price is reduced.
| For the purpose of learning what is
possible for city to do in the way OF
erecting and owning its own water and
light plant, careful inquiry was made at
the town of Alexandria, La place having
population of about 5000 people and
what the cost of the plant has been was
obtained as well rs q full list of tho rates
which the people pay for their water and
lights and the showing is remarkably
good one.
The town erected the plant in 1895 Mt a
cost of $50, 900 and provided for tho pay
ment therefor by tax levy and the nppro-
priation of the saloon licenses.
This is now all paid with the exception
of $1S, 900, divided into three annual pay
ments of Sc, 900 each.
The cost Of the plant having been pro
vided for, the next thing was to make it
self supporting, and list Of rates was
established on which it was figured that
sufficient income would be produced to
meet the operating expenses.
They have not only done this but they
have paid all additions, extensions and
improvements, including one largo pump
and an extra dynamo, and 1t is now found
that the rates to the consumer can be still
materially reduced.
| Tho plant consists Of everything in the
way OF tho latest improved machinery.
There are two pumps of 200, 900 gallons
capacity each, with the necessary boilers,
engines and dynamos to supply all the
lights and water needed for a much larger
town.
They have a stand pipe I6 feet in diane
ter and 145 feet high and six and one
half miles of mains from ten down to -four
inches in diameter
| There are 65 fire hydrants and there is O
pressure of 60 pounds from the stand pipe
They have q complete electric fire alarm
system.
| There are in use in tho city at present
2100 incandescent lights by the patrons Of
the company and five arc lights
| In the streets there are eight arc lights
and 126 thirty-two candle power incan
descent lights
The rates at which lights are supplied
per month are as follows:
Residence rate: light sl.00; 2 light.
$1.0O; lights 1925 lights $l.50;
lights $l.75; 6 lights 81 .95 lights 1920
3 lights 80. so; lights $2.75; 10 lights
$500.
Over ten lights, at thirty cents pei
month, each.
Business house rate, 8 o'clock circuit
one light, sl.0O; 2, $3.50; 3, $500 4
$3.50; S, 1926; 6, $500; 7, $3.50; 8
$500; 0, $3.50; 10, 90. 100; II, $50 IL
800; 13, 1925; IA, 81. so; Is, $7.75 IS
$500; II, 1925; 1s, $3.50; 10, 1915; 20
90. 90. Over 90 lights, As cents per month
each.
Business house rate, IL o. clock circuit
One light, $1.75; 2, $2,75; 3, 1915 4
$4.75; 5, $5.75; 6, $3.50; Z, 1928 8
$500 %, 1915 10, $3.50 II, $1,000; IL
1880; 10, s1l.00; IA, $l1.5O; is, 100
Business house rate, all night circuit
One light, $3.50; 2, $500; 3, 1878 4
800; S, $500; 6, 5000; Z, $1,000 8
s11.O0; 8, $1,000 10, $3.50 II, $500
IL, 1880; l3, sl4.0O; ID. $l4.50 ID
$500.
Are lights, until o clock, per month
$6.75; until 12 o'clock, $500 per month
all night, $l2 so per month.
Their rates for water are quoted by tn,
year and in making comparisons will