The Cairo bulletin., 1904-04-14
MUNICIPAL LIGHTING.
Concluded from Fourth Page)

Madison, Marion, Martinsvile, Misha.
waka Mitchell, Portland, Henderson
The average reported cost of main.
tanning 200 C. p lamps in above
, named cities is less than $50 per year
half of the amount recently demanded
by the Cairo local corporation on cent
tract" 9~i
You will note that he says "the
average reported cost of maintaining
1000 c. p, lamps in the above named
cities is less than 5000 year He
says, maintaining" not operating and
maintaining. 1t is hadrly possible that
ne Is wanting to deceive the public
10 the extent of admitting that he
| does not mean TO operate as well as
maintain the lights in the cities he
names at less than $50 per year. To
help in deciding what he really does
know, let us take a few of the cities
named in his list which he saws are
operating municipal plants and which
he presents and suggests for Caro- to
pattern after
Rockford, lH.-The city owns the
poles. wires, lamps. etc maintains
and operates same at its own expense
under charge of its own electrician
land linemen The city of Rockford
does not now own the power plant but
rents its power from the Commercial
Lighting Company. paying for same
S52 per year for each light, to this
rental of $50 for each light must be
added the labor and material the city
incurs by operating and maintaining
It's own lines. lamps. etc. 1t is stated
that in addition to the $50 per light
per year 1t is costing the city $24.4S
per light per year for care, repairs and
maintenance-no; including deprccia.
ton OF wires, lamps. etc
Springfield. lll.-Did construct and
operate municipal lighting plant, but
had such unsatisfactory and expensive
results of operation largely caused
by political employees, that the city
entered into five year contract with
a private company to operate the pow.
err plant and pays $50 per year for
each light, the city still owns power
plant, poles, wires, lamps, etc, and
keeps up maintenance of same
Madison, lnd,-Built and operated
a municipal plant after few years
of experience sold out for less than
% cents ON the dollar and is now fur
nished lights by private company at
$50 per light per year.
The mayor and Mr. Neff docs not
refer to the below mentioned cities
that have paid for some of their light
ing experience. and there are many
more. viii at this time only call
attention TO few.
Xenia, Ohio, sold apparatus costing
s35o0o for $4,000, after using ii
eight years.
Michigan City, Mich, sold apparatus
costing $4,000 for $4,000, after using
II six years.
Bloomfield Iowa, purchased dyna,
mos and after using them five years
they became useless and had to be
replaced at a cost of $4,000 arl
Marquette, Mich, paid $1,000 for
replacing apparatus after using one
year taftt8
Northheld W. had 10 spend sl5.-
900 to replace machinery after using II
two years.
Topeka, Kas, sold apparatus cost
ing $4,000 for $1,000.
Wabash, Ind, used dynamos and I
lamps costing $500 for six years and
then sold them for junk.
Alameda Cal. sold apparatus cost /.
ing $4,000 for $3.50 after using 1t
seven years
If Mr Neff would like some further I
history and facts of the cities on his .
list. ! can give It, but II seems hard F..
ly necessary to cite more. at this time. I
do not understand that Mr. Neff is 4
In the sale of Electric (
hut he certainly does adj 4
vocate the purchase of the machinery,
etc, as shown in tho proposed letter
Ut the Fort Wayne Electric works. as
published In the newspaper ariicols
at an approximate cost Of Slj090.0o.
The parties selling the proposed plant
no doubt. will furnish Mr.. Ncff or the
mayor with all the figures to salts.
fy them of the good and cheap results
to be obtained. etc. but there are
others TO be satisfied and convinced
IN the subject before a contract can
be closed. However. Mr. Neff says
that the plant suggested by him, can
be operated. literally figured. not 70
exceed $3.50 per month The city's
present light bills are about $3.50 per
month. thus he says" saving to the
rity can be made of $500 per month.
Or about $500 per year" He does
not itemize his cost Of operation or
,how how it can be done not to ex-
,ced $3.50 per month SO make few
figures on this part of his proposition
md ask him to dispute them by Civ.
ng, in like manner, his itcmized fig
Tres.
Cost of operating lighting plant
per month
engineer and machinist, . 5 5000
assistant engineer, 49,. COCO
frcmon. SIS each. .... 5000