The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1902-02-10
SEATTLE ELECTRIC COMPANY
PRESENTS ARGUMENTS
AGAINST MUNICIPAL PLANT
Objects to Stars Figures and Takes Issue With It's Con
ClusiOn That Such MuniNpaI Plant Would Pay-A
Communication Which the Star Willingly Pub
fishes in the Interest OF Fair Play

The Star epdcavors 60 De entirely
fAlr Ia an discussions relating 60
public matters II proposes, at this
time. TO give both sides a chance 60
argue Tor and against the proposed
municipal electric plant The atti-
tudo az the paper cdltogially " in
favor Of the project hut that fact
does not give Il the right 60 suppress
the views OF the opponents of a
municipal plant. or TO put them at
any disadvantage before tho public,
II they can pat up a better atgu-
ment AGAINST the proposition than
the Star can put In FAVOR OF u.
they viii have the fullest oppor.
tunity.
Acting upon this policy the star
some days ago sent "a request TO the
Seattle Electric Company, which
would be the natural opponent Of
a municipal plant. asking tor any
facts figures ana arguments, which
it might have to present against the
project.
In response thu following commun-
ication has just been received aud ia
given space la the Star. with the
accompanying editorial suggestion
that all readers 81 the paper give Il
fun and unprejudicsd consideration.
No good cause need ever fear dam
age by fun and free presentation OF
facts aud arguments.
Editor Seattle star: In the Star
Of February there was an ar
ticle ln regard 60 the municipal
lighting plant which made 10 APP
pear that II the city put IA "a
municipal plant the cost of supply p
~ >
less than the price now paid 10 the
Seattle Electric Company. Accord
ing 20 the tsures ia this article :. SEQ
horse power could be delivered 70
the city at :. 200 volts from plant
az Cedar Fails at an annual cost OF
SIS per horse power. This ia mere
~ an estimate. and. like all esti-
mates. Is apt to be Incorrect. Esti-
mates are usually smaller than the
actual cost turns out 20 be. as would
probably be the case Of this estl-
mate. but. for the sake OF nrgu-
ment. We will assume that this cost
~ SIS per horse power per year Is
correct. II also stated IN this article
that 50 per cent Of horse power Is
required for an arc light and rs -
per cent Of a horse power for %
candle power incaudeHcent This
estimate ~ power required Is prac-
ideally correct for AGO volts at the
city station
During Tear 1901
During the past year the Seattle
Electric Company has had on Its
municipal circuits an average Of
1 $50 incandescrnts and ita arcs. or
an equivalent OF 3I0 ares. ON the
above basis OF power required these
A.. vssastfF 4lE sss.ssae
which az SIS per horse power per
year would amount 10 t5.s2S. In fig-
uring the annual cost ~ arc lights
the fixed charges Of the distributing
plant are placed at SIS. and carbons
trimmings and repairs az $40 90. The
SIS t. on basis ~ z per cent. Inc
terest and per cent depreciation on
the cost 81 the distributing aYstrm.
on basis OF 40 ares this amounts
to s.. 500.
Practically a view rIArt
The municipal system of the Sc
attic Electric Company has been
entirely reconstructed tn the past
two years. and an accurate account
has been kept % the cost % recon
structinE. and this cost for
transformers. switchboard. wire
work and lamps and a pfoportionsts
share Of the cost 81 new poles. but
no part 81 the cost % old poles on
which municipal wires are run. has
amounted 20 a little over so. 00a.
This cost includes no portion OF the
cost of the station In which the
transformers and switchboard are
located. This checks very nearly
with the amount II fixed charges as
taken IN the above mentioned ar
ticie The estimate for cnrhona,
trimmings and repairs - the one In
volving the most variables. and
would therefore naturally be the
most difficult 70 estimate correctly.
However. with the Seattle Electric
Company this Is a condition and not
a theory.
Cost Of street Lixhts
An accurate account has been kept
% the expense Of maintaining muntc-
ipai lights for the past year. and IL
given below. iienlixed:
and inspecting 81. 1887
Repairs are lamps ............ $3.50
taFDpfH tt.....- -s-sss+.s+..s. 49,
Inner globes ................ Sis
Outer globes .................. iQs.lf
Incandescent lamp renewals. i.155. n
stable expense .+.......s...+. bls.Z0
Repairs line .................. a,f21. y
Aetat rrssfssr. -ssssss fs 90 fNHfs "a
The cost Of maintaining the
equivalent ~ 40 arcs for one year
Is - eco. or 81 90 per arc. which cost
Is more than ~ per cent. higher than
the cost 81 power. This la the only
item IN the estimated cost IN regard
to which there - Definite lnforna-
ton. and this item lH more than
twice the estimated amount.
The cost OF power 3 based entirely
on an estimate. "a IL also the per
cent figured for depreciation on the
distributing system.
Very Small Profit
The income which would be de-