Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1901-08-06
City Should Have Its Own Plants

BY request of one Of our prominent
business men we publish the following,
contributed to the columns of the Charles
ton Gazette:
Because of having been a former resi-
dent, and still an earnest well-wisher, of
your beautiful city, am greatly pleased
to see your citizens beginning to take a
decided and outspoken interest in the
matter of the ownership of the city utili-
ties.
AT this day and time when there are so
many notable examples showing the
many and great benefits arising from
municipal ownership of water and gas
works, electric plants and other necessary
adjuncts to city lite. it seems strange, al
most unacconntable. that there should be
any question as to its ACCESSIBILITY.
Take Glasgow, Scotland, and Cincin-
natl. o., as examples of how much can be
saved to the taxpayers, rich and poor, by
such ownership. And these are only two
among hundreds that can be named
select them just to show that the same
results are obtained at great distances
apart, and under very widely different
conditions Whenever and wherever it
has been faithfully tried the results have
been entirely satisfactory. But, lest
some may argue that the cities named are
large and wealthy, | will take one that
corresponds SO nearly in size and wealth
with Charleston that this argument is
destroyed. In 1885 Danville, Va, then
a city of about twelve thousand inhabi-
tants, bought its gas and water works,
and established its own electric plant
Gas was before that costing two dollars
and half per thousand feet, and water
two dollars per year for each room in the
house, a six-room house costing twelve
dollars. Cities around Danville were
paying eighty-five dollars per year for
each electric street arc lamp. Within a
very short time gas had been reduced to
seventy-flve cents per thousand ; water
to less than half, and the city ran its
street arc lamps for about twenty dollars
each per annum. 1t seems to me that
further argument is needless but this is
not all. For the lower prices the city
gave much better quality of gas. a lar
ger supply of water, brighter street lights,
and far better service. Nor is this ALL
At these greatly reduced prices the city
realized net profit OH the operation of
the three plants of from 80, 900 to So 600
per annum, enabling it to establish
sinking fund for the redemption Of the
bonds sold to secure the funds to pur-
chase these plants, aud | am Informed
that by the time the bonds mature this
sinking fund viii pay them of, leaving
the three plants free to the city. While
the cities around were running their
street lamps on moonlight schedule"
Danvile ran hers all night, every night
in the year, Nor is this yet all. The
city physician told me that the health of
the city was greatly improved by the
greater plenty of water for flushing sew
ers, washing streets, sprinkling yards
and other uses. and many citizens who
owned property told me that the saving
on gas and water paid all their taxes and
left them a handsome surplus. And
finally the city became known as pro-
gressive clearly, healthy and comforta-
bic, and the inevitable result followed,
quick and large growth in population and
wealth.
In view of these facts. which can be
easily and quickly verified, it is as | said
above strange. even unaccountable, that
more cities like Charleston do not acquire
their own public utilities whenever and
as soon as the opportunities occur. Is it
because the money power is too strong,
and too firmly intrenched, to be success
fully combatted
Your City Fathers sh ouid. and l hope
do have the individual, as we'll as the
collective, welfare of your citizens at
heart. | hear that the opportunity is up
on them for the reasonable acquisition of
water, gas and electric plants. If they
really desire to see the city larger. clean
er. healthier, happier and richer. they
will avail themselves of IT. If desired
VIII gladly furnish them the report OF the
City Engineer of Danville, Va. upon
which base the above statements. B.