Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-09-30

character OF service in these stations In
the earlier days Of the industry nearly all
the stations were installed for the purpose
Of furnishing current for arc lighting while
today the bulk Of current is supplied for
incRndescent lighting, motor power and
miscellaneous service This last includes
charging telephone exchanges, batteries for
boats and automobiles pumping hot water.
steam and electric heating electric current
ana nickel plating and electroplsting.
Private and Municipal STATIONS.
Private stations form by far the largest
portion Of the industry, constituting us
per cent Of the total number OF stations
in operation during 1902 Their income from
sale Of current was SIS III, 500. or g.8 per
cent Of gross income the expenses Of ope-
ration 92.S per cent Of the total, while they
gave employment 70 So per cent Of the
total number Of wage earners engaged In
the industry and paid sos per cent Of the
total amount Of annual wages. The pri-
mary power plant equipment Of these sta
tons formed H.S per cent Of the total
horsepower OF all stations. while their
generating equipment formed sos per cent
Of the total horsepower Of all dynamos
The kilowstt hour output Of private sta
lions formed 80 2 per cent Of the total. and
the arc lamps IN such stations formed SOS
per cent Of ths total number wired for
operation.
The comparison OF the income OF the
J two classes Of stations is not a fair Incl
, cation Of their earning capacity, because
Of the gross income reported FOR municipal
stations. OF this gross income. 81. S86, Sc
resulted from the sale Of current and in
Cluded income from public service which
was necessarily largely. II not wholly, a
matter II estimation.
The private stations employed 20 sgs ware
eErners. who were paid SO. no "a. and 6. a46
EalRried officials and clerks with salaries
I amounting 10 3 20C. 1876. while the municipal
stations employed 2 az wHFe-es-nsrs who
were paid wages amounting 70 s. 40 50, ana
800 sslaried officials and clerks, who were
paid s4s7 So.
The cost OF construction and equipment
Of the municipal stations was only IA psr
cent; their income from sale OF current. 81
per cent; their expenses. ~ per cent and
the horsepower capacity OF their power and
generating plants. 81 and 80 per cent, re-
Epecrfvely. The output Of such stations was
- per cent Of the total kiiowatt hours pro
I duced by al the stations. while their arc
lamps were 1S.2 per cent Hn6 their mean
( descent lamps 81 per cent Of an the lamps
I reported for the country.
In addition 20 controlling practically the
entire industry, the average private station
T is much larger than the average municipal
I station ConslderiuE the total Of 20B PR
waite stations, II appears that the average
total expense per year per station was So
an as compared with s.. AZ for municipal
stations The private stations gave employ
ment or the average 70 - waEe-earners
while the municipal stations gave employ
msnI 70 3 The average private stations re-
ported sSS krOwatt hours per year, as
T compared with 2s0s7s for the municipal sta
lions.
Public Plants small.
II is found that ~ municipal stations
/ Operated in thai number Of communities II
which there was no competitive private
service II would appear that in All prob
ability q great many n not al o. thess
places would have gone without electric
nghuipg had he supply hssa lsft 70 PA