The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1900-05-30

This City Must Cease TO be
The Prey Of Private Cor
porationS.
Circuit Judge Thomas J. Scott has
decreed the sale of the Richmond Elec-
tric Plant i'm July.
Richmond must be a bidder, and
her public guardians must see that
this only salvation for competition IN
public and private lighting, shall not
be forever lost, swallowed up by the
greater corporation, the Richmond
Watc q Light Company.
The latter is not nOwn to be bidder
for the electric plant, but whatever its
intention the welfare of 600 citizens
of Richmond demands first considers-
ton at the hands of our Councilmen,
and we beseech them to awake TO the
crisis that is so near at hand.
Will they grasp their opportunity
NOW-Or will they let it glide by to the
detriment Of us all?
We therefore urge with all the ardOr
and sincerity of our nature and in be-
half of a cause that is most wise and
just, that the CITY Council take up the
question of the CITY owning and opera
ting the electric light plant rather than
see it pass into the hands o. or indirect
ly under the control of, the corporation
that has had for years monopoly Of
the public lighting.
Municipal ownership Os water and
light plants is the watchwOrd of thrIv-
ing municipalities from Maine to Cali
fOrnia, all over this broad land
The man who disputes the wisdom OF
this great reform is either saturated
with prejudice against progress; is per-
sonally concerned in monopoly; is
honestly mistaken in the mat er; or is
the echo or implement of those who
are being fed, fatted, and are flourish
ing at the public crib.
To throw light on this subject, with
the hope of bursting our CALLING bands !;
to chain our city TO the car of Progress,
to reduce taxation; to procure public
necessities AT COST. is the sole and
= My object Of this feeble but fearless
appeal.
If there be not another soul in this
city who sees this matter as | do,
mean to agitate the subject until re-
spOnsibility for its solution whatever
1t be-shall rest upon our COuncilmeD
forever, either as monument to their
courage enlightenment and progress,
or TO their stupidity, cowardice and
folly.
The rapid growth of Public Own
ership of Electric Light Plants, in the
last eighteen wears, will open the eyes
OF those who have not studied this inI-
pOrtant question.
loSZ....... --.......-.... .............
1904 .
1000 100000 1
1000 ........ -
loSO - .'.' ...-.--..---.-. .-..'....... oil
-..'.............-.. ..... lO2
1870 -..''-'.....'. .....22O
1873 -......... ......JOO
In all that time there have been two
sales Of public lighting plants, because
"f dissatisfaction, and m both cases the
works were a failure under private, as
well "a under pnblic management. In
i've other eases of alleged failure, the
causes were various, such as destruc-
ton by fire, uI city being unable to re-
bHid. Thus, less than ten failures i'm
800 experiments is the extent of the eli
lrcis irom the forward movement of
Electric Public Ownership.
We were discussing the public own
erShIp of the gas and water works, L
could adduce equally as lnnch testi-
mOny to show the wisdom of such a
step, and when | say equally as muck
testimony" | mean to say that have
at command information in such vol
umes and of such credibiIity that
challenge those who may oppose this
step which l urge with all my power.
L can show that electric lights, opera
ted by private corporations fore then
RE- purchased By The city-cost from four
TO five times as much for TIE service
rendered, as when the cities operated
them. l can show that private Gas
Companies, such as the one in Rich
mOnd to-day charged s. 80 per thous-
and feet until the city bought the plant
and sold gas at SO cents per thousand I
Think Of the reduced taxes, the in
creased facilities, That price is
charged at Charlottesville. Va, where |
visited few weeks ago; while at Rich
mond, Va, the city owns its gas plant
and delivers gas at the burner at an
operating cost of 81 cents thousand
Interest on the value OF the plant would
bring the total up TO 80 cents. But
there is no need to add interest, since
the plant paid for itself long ago. Ap. t.
Uat' company must add interest, but "a
plant completely pubIic-Owned by the
city, clear of debt, has no interest.
The people of Richmond, Va, are
getting gas at at real cost Of 40 cents.
ha of Df..h II
get their gas at a lower cost than now
if they had municipal gas works.
Richmond, KY, pays $500 for gas
alone. while Paris for both gas and
electricity, pays only $500. We pay
50 $50 per year for water, $3.50 more
than is paid by Paris, although the lat
Ter Is One-third larger than our city.
But it is the Electric Light business
we want to see settled first. and settled
right. Ii the present promoters do not
care to become bidders and operate
the works independently, let the city
step in and own the works which can
pay Tor themselves IN a short while and
save thousands of dollars annually to
tile taxpayers.
If the opponents OF this proposition
want 10 talk, let them talk out loud.
Though these columns, FREE, to their
paymasters and their slaves
CLARENCE L. WOODS.
p. 81 am painfully conscious that
my entire into this sacred field of dis
cussion will elicit ridicule. but while
lighting for Democracy week in and
week out, | have not neglected some
other matters of public concern.
have been studying the question ui
pnhiic ownership for several years and
It is not spasm of patriotism or dema-
cbgy that affiicts me. | have longed for
the time when that which makes pub
lie corporations rich may be turned back
to the people who gave it, who support
it and who draw out no dividents and
yet no favors without paying well for
them. A year ago received these
letters from Hon. Gustav Tafel, Mayor
If Cincinnati. printed heie solely to
show that at least that long ago NV
heart was in the cause of Municipal
Ownership, one of the most vital qnes-
lions before the public to. day:
MAYORS OFFICE.
Cincinnati, Ohio, June p, 1893.
CLARENCE E WOODS. ESQ.
DEAR SIR:-I am in receipt OF your kind let
ter of the 10th inst enclosing manuscript read
by you before the Prandeunial Club on the SD b
iect OF public ownership of franchises am
sure that your address will not fail to give me
new ideas on that important subject.
l shall return your manuscript as soon as
Ia nraA nil To-