The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-04

sunset to forty-five minutes before sun
rise. and operated wholly by means OF
underground wire. and each arc light
shall be OF not less than LOCO actual can
die power. etc.
In advertising for bids under this act the
Commissioners received from the United
States Electric Lighting Company hid to
furnish these lights at the rate Of S115.64
for each light per annum. The company
has maintained that the price named in
the appropriation bill-namely. S12 for
each light per annum, is less than the
actual cost of the service, and in coming
to an agreement with the District authori-
ties it has expressed its confidence that
when the members of Congress rightly
understand matters they will vote for ad-
ditional pay for the service. This is the
tentative arrangement under which the
street lighting has been furnished since
the beginning of the present fiscal year.
AT the last session of Congress the
Commissioners submitted to the House
Appropriations Committee statement Of
the average cost of electric lighting in all
the States and Territories.
The average amount paid. as shown by
the statement is 1910 per annum. in
comparison with which the cost in Wash
ington is something more than 500 year.
The average contract price for each
lamp per mum in each of the forty-six
States and Territories mentioned is as
follows: Alabama. sS5; Arizona, s121.50:
Arkansas, sl2S.43; California, $500;
Colorado, s129.50; Connecticut, sS4.40;
Delaware. s1C0; Georgia. sS4.15; Idaho.
SIP; IllirSis. s70.75: Indiana, $3.50; Iowa,
S74.30; Kaasas. $1.S9: Kentucky, $3.50;
Louisiana, s113.75; Maine, $3.50; Mary
land. sS4.55; Massachusetts,, 1874; Michigan.
Nic- irni
slO1.33; Missouri. $3.50; Montana. sl37.9O:
Nebraska, S1O4.S5; Nevada, s196; New
Hampshire. sS1.50; New Jersey, s1O3.50;
New Mexico. s127.50: New York. 5000;
North Carolina, 5000; North Dakota.
$3.50: Ohio $3.50; Oregon, s107.57; Rhode
Island. s11i.06; South Carolina, s77.4O;
Pennsylvania, $3.50: South Dakota.
S10s.33; Tennessee. $500: Texas. s10S.10;
Utah, S1625; Vermont, $3.50: Virginia.
$3.50; Washington (State). Sl05.61; West
Virginia. 5000; Wisconsin, S7I.7o: Wyo-
ming S1s9. so: Hawaiian Islands. 500. To-
tai average, 1910.
According to the representations iaade
to the House Committee on the District
of Columbia by the local electric lighting
companies. it was set forth that the cost
of furnishing one standard 2,000-candle-
power arc light for all-year service is
S1l5.74. This estimate was made up Of
the following items: For each light per
annum, station and maintenance costs.
s16.35; cGrbons and globes. S5.32; wages.
supplies, material and stable expense on
outside work, 1885; proportion of execu-
tive managing and bookkeeping expense.
sos: taxes. Sis; fire insurance. IS
cents; liability insurance, 81 and in
creased cost of coal at the assumed ad-
vance Of 81 per ton. S3.35, a total for
pf At
land -; on buildings. per cent, sos;
on steam plant. per cent, 1915; on arc
light machines and details, 10 per cent,
1898; on reserve steam plant. per cent.
Si.40; on conduits. per cent, $3.50: on
cables, per cent $3.50; on iron poles,
per cent, S1.50; on arc lamps, 10 per
cent, $40; on hand poles, per cent. a
cents. and on manholes, 10 per cent, 81 IS;
total depreciation account, se91G interest
at per cent on total investment per arc
lamp of S52S22. $3l.69. Reorganization
Total cash outlay cost, s5i29; total in
terest cost. at per cent, S31.69. and total
depreciation cost. S24.16. making the total
cost for the furnishing of one standard
1000 candlepower are lamp all and every
night for one year Sll5.14.
George TruesIell. then president OF the
electric lighting companies, in submitting
these figures 10 the House committee Oh
the actual cost of the manufacture and
distribution OF the arc lighting current or
acknowledgement requested that the
maximum ra;e of S72 year for are lights
of not less than LOCO candlepower al
lowed his companies for furnishing the
light. be changed to % cents each night
for each lamp burning the number OF hours
required by law.
AS Is well known, the House refused to
concede to the views OF the company and
the price for electric lighting was fixed at
s72 for each lamp per annum.