Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-04-10
Concerning the COM
mittees' Reports.
To the Editor of the Alerandria Gazett,

To the Editor Of the Alexandria Gazette;
Dear Sir: We feel it due to our
salves and our principals to draw the
public attention 20 TIE maiu features
Of the reports OF the Finance and
light Com mitlees. 10 which a compari.
son ia instituted between the terms OF
our offer and results said to have been
obtained by the city.
10 the comparison adopted In the
| reports no account Ia taken of the in
terest which the city will have 10 pay
for the money to be borrowed for re-
newal of its gas and electric works, nor
OF the saving to gas consumers from
reduction 10 the price OF gas; no allow
snce Ia made for depreciation (not
even for the amount which the hard
fact of necessary renewal OF both gas
and electric manufacturing plants estab-
fishes beyond controversy; no allow
ance is made for the fact tnst the cost
Of operating the the electric plant Is
now, and will continue to be, whether
nnder City or Syndicate management,
5000 year more expensive than 10
1898. 1899, 1900 aud 1901, on account
of theI permanent lose OF annual
receipts from the private use OF six arc
lamps heretofore burnt Dy the South
ern Railway Company; no account; .is
taken OF the SIS, 900 which the city will
receive II the city elect, TO continue the
operating contract for the foil term
Inc lead Of bringing 1t to termination
st the end OF ten years; and no accour
10 taken OF the prospective receipts to
the city from sale of electricity to
private consumers.
A correction of the third schedule
met proftS) 10 the report OF the Com.
mlt.ee 90 Light 10 respect alone to the
item OF interest on the necessary S32,-
600 renewals will show that our propo-
sitlon IL sS81.52 per snnum more favor
able to tax payers than the average
results of four years last past which
have been adopted by the committees
as fair basis of comparison. II the
city rebuilds the plants 1t will beyond
question have to pay this interest. II
we take over the management OF the
plants we agree to pay the interest so
long as we have the use of them. The
saving OF these intere,t payments is
Just as direct pecuniary bsne 6t to the
City Treasury as the 10 cents per 1000
feet which We agreed to pay.
A correction OF schedule third met
profts) in the report of the Commhtse
on Light 10 the first four respects only
mentioned above would make. them
read as follows for the purpose OF fair
comparison with our offer:
NET PROFITS.
Third schedule
Starting with surplus net
earnings during 1898.1899. 1900,
1901 at end ofthls schedule, S1,593.94
Yearly average surplus net
earnings, being one-fourth Of
81 ,598 "a. 1898 48
Deduct interest at 4 per
cent. on $4,000 for gas and
sl2, 900 for electric works, s1,2SOOO
Deduct saving to gas con-
sumers OF 20 cents per 1000
cubic feet on 20,199. 800 cubic
feet OF gas burnt 10 1901 by re-
duciion of price to 81 per 900
cubic feet. 4.OS9.S9
Deduct average annual de-
probation propoftioned only
to necessary renewals Of both
plants to the extent of $32.-
600, ,6Se.66
Deduct. Annual Increased
cost OF operating electric plant
on account OF loss of revenue
on railroads 6 arc lamps 600 90