Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-27
CITY OWNERSHIP SUCCESS
Lincoln Saves On Water and Proposes to
Reduce Co.'S of Light
CORPORATIONS UNABLE TO STOP MOVE
First Popular Vote NuIIIhed on Tech
nfcaIIty, but secOnd Also Carries
and VIII Result I'm Mdnici-
pal Plant in October.
trrom a star correspondent.l

sum Of S65 100 for the construction of an
electric lighting plant. The proposition
was before the people at the last city cleo
tion and out Of 1883 votes cast 1859 were
for the proposition and 1926 were opposed
to II. THIS a. majority Of the total vote
cost was in favor of municipal ownership.
The ordinances carries with It the right
Of the city to construct at the Rice pump
ing station an electric lighting plant for
lighting the streets, alleys, parks and city
buildings. It does not give the right to
furnish, light to residences or commercial
buildings. The people at this time, how
ever. are IN favor Of this latter proposition
and unless there is a material decrease in
the charges 1now made for light will ask
the next legislature tc so amend the char
ter that the city will have the power TO
branch out and make the plant not only
seiI-sustaining. bus a Incorporating invest
ment- 9,f
Proposition Twice Carried.
The fact that the proposition was carried
by such an overwhelming majority was due
to the city's experience with the municipal
ownership OF the wAterworks plant and It's
experience with sxorbitant rates charged by
the electric light company. 1t was a hard
tight and has been twice carried. The hrst
time, two years ago, after the proposition
had been endorsed by q majority Of the
voters. a technical error defeated the is
suance OF the bonds. This time. however,
there has been no mistake and all there IL
to do now 10 to sell the bonds and construct
the plant. without mishap 1t is believed
, the city Will be furnishing it's own light by
4 October !.
y Lincoln now pays for 200 street lights
f13,642.80 annually. OF these 1874 are run
half the night at a cost of $3.50 each and
eighteen all night at q cost Of $s9.4o each
annually.
The plant which the city proposes to con-
struct will be run in connection with the
water plant. To do this 1t WILL be necessary
to enlarge the latter by the addition of two
engines, one $50 horsepower and one las
horsepower and two boilers. The plant will
be modern in every respect and will have a
capacity of 800 lights. At this time the e.
innate Of the cost is based on 800 lights to
run ali night or nine hours, moonlight
nights, OF course, excepted.
The estimated yearly expense ranges from
1000. to an outside estimate Of $14, 500.
This will include an electric light commits
sloner at a salary, Of 1880 yearly, extra
coal, carbons used. broken globes, an In
crease in salary OF the engineer for the
plants OF $50 monthly. 81 per day for a line
man, 50 per day for a trimmer, 1 per cent
interest on the bonds and a depreciation of
1910 per cent.
Inasmuch IS the lighting plant will be
constructed at the Rice pumping station
and Will be q part Of the water plant, little
additional help Will be necessary. The
electric light commissioner. at q salary OF
$1,000. will be- Appointed By, the mayor and
viii repaEtTSp him ana tAs council. He
willshaEe general supervision. The, chief
enginssr at the water plant will also be-
. come the electrical engineer, should be
prove capable, and his salary will be In
creased from $40. to 500 per month. One
lineman and one trimmer, each at 81 pc,
day. is all the additional help that hal
been figured on. though It is possible NOR,
men will have TO be employed at the sta,
ton, one Of whom will assist the present
hremen. The men. now employed at tn,
pumping station work in three shifts and 1
is believed with the additional help fur
nished them they will be able to look afte
both plants
The authorities figure they can get goo,
service with one trimmer because they In
tend to use the latest improved enclose
lights and little trimming viii be neees
Ssary.
No Franchises TO Purchase.
At this time and for many years the cit
has secured its lights from the Lincol
Gas and Electrical company. formerly max
ing i've year contracts. Recently, how
ever. the legislature changed the law 8
that only yearly contracts can be mad,
Thus the city will have no unexpired fran
chise to purchase and no red tape to IN
raveI with the lighting company. Tn
company furnishes lights for the majorit
OF the commercial houses and residence
I%Qhe Lincoln Traction company furnishe
some. The former company charges 20 cent
for incandescent lights and the latter
cents. For the arc lights the merchant
pay from $12 to S1S monthly.
Many citizens opposed the issuance
bonds to secure a lighting plant merely fC
city purposes, preferring to have the cit
furnish the lights for individuals. This wi
be done, said one OF the promoters
municipal ownership, as soon as the ne,
legislature convenes. providing the electr
lighting companies do not materially d,
crease their rates. The city authorltie
having nothing in common with the liRh'
ing companies except their yearly contrac
will proceed with the construction OF Il
plant without regard to the corporation
Should the latter reduce the rates TO a f,
ure at which the city believes It could fu
nish lights, then 1t will have no compel
tton for lighting commercial houses al
Tesluehces SO lar as the city plant Is col
cernedA otherwise,it will.
Before the proposition for the city plal
was voted on, the matter was thorough
Investigated by the city authorities Al
advices received from many towns that nc
own their plants. At Topeka. Kan, Il
electric lighting plant is owned, controls
and run by the city and is giving sati
faction. The plant furnishes s44 lights
. total cost Of as zoe annually. Inasmu
as Topeka does not own its water pIal
the Lincoln authorities believe that aft
the plant is started here the cost will
less than that to the Kansas town.
II WAS probable Lincoln's experience
the municipal ownership Of the water plai
more than anything else, that induced I
people to twice vote for the munich
ownership Of the lighting plant. The wat
plant is more than self sustaining. II
making money. And with the drain on
income for maintaipRnee 1t is yearly payi
into the general fund OF the city enou
money 70 pay the interest on the wa.
honds. a sum annually on the bonded
debtedness and to pay the entire expeni
OF the hre department. But greater Ii
all these is the fact that the people
Lincoln get water, for the small Drice