The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-13

The Commissioners a few days ago re
ueived from the house Committee on TIT
District Of Columbia a letter OF epquir,
asking for the facts upon which they ha,
based an unfavorable recommendation o
House bill 7oS6. reducing the cost o
electrical lighting The committee ais,
requested the data in the hands of III,
Commissioners relating to the cost O
electricity in other cities
Yesterday Commissioner Wight. acting
for the board. sent the information re-
quested TO the House Committee. The
statement showed the amounts paid foI
electrical lighting in forty-six States and
Territories, some Of which are for all-yeaI
! service some for a part Of the year. ard
| most OF them for overhead construction.
The average amount paid.-ss shown by
the statement is $9710 per anrum, in
| comparison with which the cost in Wash
/ ington is something more than slo0 a
| year
! The average contract price for each
/ lamp per annum in each Of the fOrty-six
| States and Territories mentioned IS as
/ follows: Alabama, $780, Arizona, $l2l50i
! Arkansas, Sl2S.43; California $3.50;
! Colorado, s12s.5O; Connecticut $500
! Delaware, 500; Georgia. SS4.15: idaho,
/ SIP; Illinois. $70.75: Indiana, S76.50: Iowa
S74.3O; Kansas, $71.39; Kentucky, $3.50;
Louisiana, s11S.75: Maine. S6S.l0; Mary
land $Si55; Massachusetts. s9I; Michigan,
$7430; Minnesota sS9.56, Mississippi,
S101.33; Missouri $96. so: Montana. 1880;
Nebraska, S1G4.S5; Nevada, 1856; New
Hampshire $3.50: New Jersey. s105.50;
New Mexico, S127.50; New York, 5000;
North Carolina, $90.33; North Dakota,
$3.50; Ohio, S77.50; Oregon. sl07 Rhode
Island, S11406; South Carolina. s77.40;
Pennsylvania, $3.50. South Dakota,
S10S.33; Tennessee. $500: Texas SlOS.10:
Utah, $ij.25; Vermont. S67 Virginia,
$3.50: Washington CState). s1O5.Gl; West
Virginia, SS0.50: Wisconsin. $7L70; Wy0m
ing, Sl6s.50; Hawaiian Islands 500. Total
average. Ss71O.
According to the representation made
to the House Committee on the District
Of Columbia by the local electric lighting
companies, il was set forth that the cost
Of furnishing one standard 1000 candle
power are light for all-year service is
$ll5.A. This estimate was made up OF
the following items: For each light per
annum, station and maintenance costs,
$15.S5: carbons and globes S5.32; wages,
supplies, material, and stable expense
NA NoNGAAN NbA r. Tlt.br- kl b4fb1 tlbn
Of executive managing and bookkeeping
expense, S5.OS; taxes. Sis; fire insurance.
As cents; liability insurance, 81 and in
creased cost of coal at the assumed ad-
vance Of 81 per ton, $3.35, a total for above
items of s5A29. Depreciation on land. -;
on buildings, 4 per cent, S2.G5; on steam !
plant : per cent S3.76, on arc light ma
chimes and details, 10 per cent, 81 81 on |
reserve tseam plant. per cent, $40: on /
per cent $3.50. on cables, ) |
per cent, $685. on iron poles, per cent. |
$l50; on arc lamps, 10 per cent, s2.10; on |
hand poles. . per cent, A cents and on /
manholes, 10 per cent, S1.45; total depre- /
citation account, s29.76; interest at per /
cent on total investment per arc lamp, |
OF S52S.22, S31GS. Recapitulation-Tot /
cash outlay cost, s5429; total interest !
cost, at 6 per cent, $780, and total de-
probation cost, $2s.76, making the total |
cost for the furnishing Of one standard /
? ,00e candle power are lamp all and every
night for one year $l1574.
George TTuesdell President Of the cleo
,rict lighting companies, in submitting
The above figures 10 the House committee
as the actual cost of the manufacture and /
Of the are lighting current of
1000 candle power, requested that the
maximum rate Of So a year for arc lights
II not less than 1000 candle power al
owed his companies for furnishing the
light be changed TO - cents each night
or each lamp burning the number OF
hours required by law. This would
amount TO an increased remuneration.
which Mr. Truesdell sought TO show was
necessary, writing as follows 20 the COM
nittee.
The circumstances under which the
ate Of SI2 was established in the appro-
lriation act for the current fiscal ,ear,
ogether with the language contained in
aid act. would seem 10 indicate couclu-
lively that said rate was imposed upon
he electric lighting companies as a tax
or the right to use conduits heretofore
uilt. OF which might be built under the .
PROVISIONS Of said act That the rate " as
Considered by Congress as inadequate Is
urther shown by the fact that the rate for
lighting public parks. fixed by the act
making appropriations for sunlery civil ex-
enses for the current fiscal year was %
ents per light t$9l.25 per annuml. The
lectric lighting companies respectfully
ubmit that no other corporation IN the
District Of Columbia is required to render
ny service to the public at less than cost
: a consideration for the right 10 occupy
ublic streets, and that. Therefore this re-
uirement Of the lighting companies Is an ]
MUST discrimination against said COM
q anIes- II II Is 10 ne 'he HAeu FoIey
ooHEIess 70 inpoSe upon corporations
TAX Ior me Ileht 10 use PUBIC streets II
Respectfully suggested that slch tax d
mould be UNIFORM IN It's application and
e hAeu WIN some reference TO the value ;
! the irdnenlse enjoyed 10y the corpora ,
ION
The electric lighting companies" Mr..
ruesdell continues have expended large
inns OF money voluntarily during the past q