Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-04-10
THE CITY LIGHT WORKS.
CONTINUED from LIST page)

lOoCnbcQ Ny me- dtlldDOsOUkn ~ VIZ IOAHe
meeting Of the Committees on Finance and
Light.
They will make no charge to the city for
the use Of this or other moneys expended by
them upon the plants during the contract.
Your committees fail to see why they
should charge the city for this $50 900 40 II
is an expenditure for their benefit and their
alone.
They say further on In the contract they
will expect and exsct payment to them BY
the city Of the full appraised value Of all re
newals extensions and betterments, unless
the contract continues unterminated until the
expiration of the full term Of one hurdred
years; In that event they will.allow the city
deduction of $25, 900.
4TH, EXEMPT FROM LIoENsEs AND TAXES
The operators are to be exempt from all
taxes and licenses. The value OF the "a:
works as assessed By the city is $4,000
This at Sl.71, the net rate, means 81, 1885 OC
saved to the operators. The city must pay
$1OO per 1000 feet for gas consumed owe;
and above that allowed them (3,2OO,OOC
feet) which based on last years increase would
mean 10000 to be paid the operators.
Total SO ,345.00 exclusive Of licenses and
State taxes.
The city would receive 10 cents on each
1000 feet OF gas sold private consumers N
the city, which based on last years sales
would 90 $2,019.65.
The city under present management has,
with an old plant, received all the new
operators promise-namely, municipal gas
lighting, electric arc lighting, and 10 cents
upon each ], ZOO feet OF gas sold consumers.
Wherein the city is benefited by this propo'
sitioD, we fail to see.
9TH. GAS 81 90 PER THOUSAND FEET.
This fifth section simply means gas gros,
81. 10 per 1 900 feet, with discount allow
ed Of 10 cents on each thousand feet fol
prompt payment.
9TH. OPERATORS WILL KEEP PLANTS IN
GOOD REPAIR,
Of course this should be done. The city
will, however, have to pay for all renewals
extensions AMI betterments.
7TH. OPERATORS WILL GIVE BOND FOR THE
FAITHFUL PERFORMANCE OF THE
TERMS OF CONTRACT.
This of course would be expected and eK.
acted By any municipality.
8TH. OPERATORS OR A CORPORATION IT'S
SUCCESSORS.
The operators, or in other words, Messrs
Goldsborough, Willard & Warner, are simply
asking for promoters lease. They propose
getting this valuable franchise from the city
with the in tention Of forming corporation
their SUCCESSORS or assigns, and the city is
ssked to give the corporation to be formed a
lease for hltY years with the privilege Of re-
newal for fifty yesrs upon the same terms.
IT will DO observed that the city gets moth
ing for this very vslu ,ble franchise for MAX
ing and selling gas within the city limits
such franchise alone Is, in the opinion oil
your Committee, worth lsrge sum OF money
particularly so when it 10 safe guarded by the
guarantee Of the city that these operators
shall have = monopoly.
1t will be further observed that when thit
contract is signed by the city, that all control
Of said works passes out OF the hands OF the
city, certainly for ten years, probably fol
fifty, and possibly for one hundred.
9TH. THE CITY WILL WARRANT AND DEFENI
ITS TITLE TO SAID PLANTS, &C., AND VILE
GIVE SUCH OTHER AND FURTHER As.
sURANoEs AS COUNSEL FOR THE
OPERATORS MAY ADVISE.
There Is legal question involved in this
ninth section. Your Committee doubt the
power Of the city to guarantee that the gas
works are free from encumbrances. Your
Committee believe that the bondholders
have an implied, If not en- actual lien upon
these works.
10TH. CONTRACT, TERM OF YEARS, &C.
This section means that the city will have
to pay the full appraised valuation Of all re-
newals, extensions and betterments to which
there is no limit, il at any time short OF one
hundred years the contract should termin ate,
"a -. fEar
either the city or the operators.
II the lease continues until the full term OF
one hundred years. and the appraisers find
the renewals. extensions and betterments e.
coed $4,000, which most sssuredly will be
the case, then the city is to be allowed de-
duction of $4,000 from the amount OF such
appraised valuation.
18th. DELIVERY OF BOND.
The eleventh section simply explains ite.
self. OF course the city would exact this
bond.
This report would be incomplete IL We
sailed to call attention to the fact that the
gas works were erected by the people Of Alex.
andris by authority Of the popular vote. The
question asked each voter on March 4, 1881
was "Are you in favor Of the corporation es-
tablishng gss works or not under the con-
tract already made therefor by VIM. a..
Fowle and othersp At that election 4S7
votes were cast. 410 for municipal control,
II for private ownership.
A statement frequently made, but lacking
every sembsnce OF probability, is, that 1t was
once understood that the gas works was not
intended to bs q source Of municipal revenue,
after il had been paid for out of It's own earn
ings, but WAS TO furnish gas at bare cost"
The contention, If such should be classed
In the realm Of reason, is indeed 3 strange
one, for We would have the city In that way
create Gprivileged class.
The city reports fail TO verify any such
promise, but upon the contrary the gas works
have been depended upon By those who ar
range the fiscal affairs of the city as one OF
the mediums for raising revenue along with
taxes, licenses, rents and police court lines
That the city has the right to make the
gas works source Of revenue, and tax the
gp3 consumer in the way OF fair price for
the article it sells, Just IS 1t prescribes tax
rate, and assesses license privilege, no one
can deny.
The ciy of dollar gas Is popular one to
most gas consumers, bnt so is the cry OF cheap
water with every body. No reductions have
been made in the wster rents.
Tho private corporations do not make
yearly public exhibits of their operations,-
hence they escape tne opportunities OF specu
latoTs
All persons paying licenses do not use gas;
all persons paying taxes do not use gas.
Many persons paying for gas may not pay
either taxes or licenses.
The DISTRIBUTE OF burdens for municipal
expenditures should be carefully considered,
and it is submitted that your joint committee
Is warranted in saying thst no good reason
exists for farther considering any proposition
looking to lease of the gas works, that is ihe
Of all the people, to syndicate who
can avail themselves Of exemption Of taxes,
state and local, By reason OF municipal owner.
ship, simply because such syndicate say they
will take our plant, our franchite and tell gas
&c lower figures than we now do. This they
can no doubt do, and by parity OF reasoning,
Al n