The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-08

and Boston or New York the al ference Is between
the sum OF $1,000 and the sum bid In New York. 70
wit: Sits. or t2<.$o
And even when based upon the alleged cost 10
Chicago In the last year OF ssssi such cost. when
Increased by omitted items and by comparisons
with the differences In local conditions as between
Chicago and New York. will be the sum OF Siss-si.
or Si9 less than the bid Of the electric lighting
company In New York.
In considering the question OF the cost Of fur
nishins gas OF furnishing electric lights In the
City OF New York. there must also be borne In mind
the exceedingly onerous conditions under which
the corporations exercise their franchises In this
City. The companies are not permitted to repair
the pavemens which they arc compelled 70 open
themselves, but such repairs are required 70 DO
made al the companys expense by the asphalt
companies and the cost Of these repairs runs from
500 70 e67b per square yard, whereas the same
could be reasonably done for the sum Of from $3.50
70 $50 per square yard. For replacing . granite
psvsmen, on concrete the companies are charged
by the CITY n for the nrst square yard and ~ for
the balance. whereas this work could be reasonably
done for the sum Of q. 50 per square yard.
The companies are also compelled 70 employ
Inspectors appointed by she Department of High
ways some Of whom are paid at the rate Of Si.3oo
per annum. and the rest n per day. The company
has also been recently advised that additional
inspectors to do the same work must be obtained
from the Department OF Water supply, Gas and
Electricity. II u q matter OF regret that these
gentlemen are not sufficiently constant In their
attendance upon the work to Justify the lighting
companies In accepting their services In place OF
their own inspectors
One thing is certain. and that Is. that the cost
AZ which electric light has been furnished 70 the
City OF New York by the Brush Electric Light
Company. which uses tn rec -fourths OF its output
for City lighting. Is alta ngure which, since that
corporation placed Its wires underground. has
paid dividends and has not produced . sum
over operating expenses suficient 10 meet even
reasonable allowance for depreciation.
MI Monroe also makes a tabulation OF certain
cities stated 70 furnish their own electric light
ing, The cities so selected that furnish lamps
OF 1000 candle power are comparatively few In
number. The FIRST Is Columbus. ohio. which Is
stated TO furnish $50 lamps at cost OF N7 per
lamp: 81. Joseph. Missouri. 10 lamps at $40 per
lamp: Aieg heny. Pa. iiii lamps al s7+ per lamp
Jacksonville, Fla 1852 lamps at 500 per lamp. These
form Mr.. Monroe'S basis Of comparison, save the
cities OF Chicago and Detroit Aside therefore.
from the Cities of Chicago and Detroit. Mr Monroc's
tabulauon contains no city OF any large size oper.
atlng municipal plants No statement whatever
Is made OF the condition under which these plants
operated, whether by water power and over
head or underground system, and, indeed. no
reference " hatever is made to any local condition.
II cannot for a moment be seriously commended
that any basis OF comparison can Justly be made
upon such a small number OF cities or with such
meagre Information. No Other city has ever pre-
tended to act on such an Investigation.
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP.
The I'VE important cities that have undertaken
or seriously consld municipal ownership are
Chicago. Detroit Boston 10 all OF which reference
has already been made). Philadelphia and Wor-
cester.
The City Of Philadelphia for many years man
aged Its own public lighting plant. Nothwlth-
standing that gas was sold TO private consumers.
giving 10 the City the beneHt Of prohts derived
therefrom, the result was that the manufacture and
sale Of gas was conducted at such an enormous
lo.s hat he he IVA lad N abandon
and lease It's plant 70 private corporation.
In December. 1901. the City Of Worcester In
vestigated the question OF municipal ownership
The Com mittee appointed TO make Inquiries Oh
tained reports from . number Of municipalities
engaged In supplying electricity with municipal
plant The result OF the Inquiries made was that
the average cost per lamp hour Of the street arcs
furn ished by the municipal plants In the State OF
Massachusetts,. as shown by the reports OF the
Board. was. for a 500 Watt Lamp. tSsc. per lamp
hour.
Al the present bid of the New York Edison Com
pany, a standard arc lamp at AGO hours per an
mum costs s.5Gc. per lamp hour
The result. therefore, of the Philadelphia. Wor-
cester and Boston agitat justines the conclusion
that the Consoli dated Gas Company has In the
pas, and will In che future supply the City with
municipal lighting Of every kind al far leas ex-
pense than would result from any municipal owner
ship.
only des Ire further say that the public light
ing Of the Consolidated Gas Company 10 less than
four per cent OF It's entre business and that taxes
were levied on the property OF that Company and
the companies associated whit last year In the
sum Of 81 70. 1885, a sum which will lie found 20 DO
far in excess of the entire revenue derived by the
City OF Philadelphia from the lease Of Its plant to
private corporal ION. The Consolidated Gas Com
pany has been a, all times ready and will always
continue ready to carry public lighting into new
districts fully approaching that Its Inter are
bound up with the interests Of the City. ana that
nothing assists so much in the development and