New-York tribune., 1905-02-20
CITY PLANT EXPENSIVE.
So Declares T.. III. Davis, Speaking
of EGDert Report on Lighting

Ernest H. Davis president of the National
Electric Light Association said yesterday, regard
ing the report of the engineering committee ap-
pointed inquire to municipal lighting plant:
In the report upon the proposed municipal light
ing plant submitted to the Mayor by the en-
gneering committee, number OF items are omit
ted. some intentionally. others apparently not.
And there Is at least one error OF very glarhg
nature In the principal figures upon which the con-
clusions are based.
charges. The result. quoted generally as tompre-
cost of operating the municipal plant. 1t is T OF
stated however. that the large expenditures re-
quired to replace tie electric motors and other &p-
parat1us and to equip the buildings now using as
used for elevator. pump, for ventilation for
any any other purpose In airy school or other public
tenn, which differs radically from the present sys-
tenn of the private companies
In the various public buildings supplied by
the private companies there 5000 incandescenJ
estimated upon 25ooco leaving balance of 1900
to be wired for and provided with fixtures The
viii he not less than sl,Oo0,OOO to which must be
port places at 10 per cent of the amount expended
The inclusion of this one item of number for
the estimated expenditure for this proposed munci-
There is another error greater in magnitude and
more inexcus9b's in nature The original report
that 100000 kilowatt hours annually at the lamps
would be required to supply 10000 incandescent
Increased the incandescent installation to $4,000
Will require $4,000 kilowatt hours At SIS cents
a kowatt hour the estimated cost given by the
this portion of Of the aa plant 1 be- 8 S The total
expenditure is seO6.O0O A balance is therefore left
of S5S4125-charseable to ighting-whch is ss 30
per arc lamp. and not SO 4O stated in the repor:
Another error has crept into the report figures
with the question. though the necessary data We're
available to the expert committee. In all the pub
lie buildings the armories. schools and various de-
partments. the city is using 1880 incandescens
annEaly an average Of Is IS liiowatt hours on the
same basis the annual consumption by 100000 in
candescert lamps would be 34S7 500 klOwatt hours.
which, at SIS cents a kowatt hour. would cost
only 1770S1 25. This change would make very slight
difference in the total cost of operating the plant
that they make current for SIS cents kilo-
watt hour is correct. we must increase the charge
average of $12149 per lamp again not including
lost taxes, rea, estate and subway costs
1t would probably be not entirely fair. however
to charge the entire difference against the arc
lighting but rather the estimated cost OF pro
creased. Where reduction is made merely in the
amount Of current generated by plant OF hxed
size the costs of generation do not decrease in
like proportion The fixed charges, including in
terest depreciation, taxes and other general ex-
difference in such instance this would be only
a slight change in coal and water. Any diminished
wear and repairs upon the machinery are negligible
And therefore, instead OF charging the difference
against the arc lighting. 1T would be more nearly
correct consumption of current; the partial costs
thereupon become. instead Of SIS cents SS6 cents
kiIowatt hour Loss OF and the principal, real
estate and the subway costs still are not included
This figure also fails to include the large eX-
penditures which must be made to utilize the pro
posed service, and they of such nature that
they must be charged exclusively TO the mean
descent lighting. the estimates for which include
power Upon interest and depreciation. taking the
figures of the report together II per cent, total
Of 1921 900 annually, be added to this account
There would be an additional expenditure for the
maintenance OF these instala tons, but have pur-
posely omitted this item This additional sum
alone represents an increase of S7.5 per cent bring
ing the cost of this service to l2SS cents a koWat
hour still excluding the subway tax and real estate