Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1905-05-06

cred. Since that t.a,c th' profits accr.l-
ing and paid int tn city TIE Sury have
amounted to Tie cnormou total of $l2,
100000. The plant HS it stan = to-day
constitutes an asset haNiu Il market
value of more than $l3.UOO.GOn. Gas
is furnished not only TO citizens of
Manchester. but to $4,000 customers
outside the corporate limits. The rate
charged is 60 cents Il thousand cubic
feet, and the net profit for the Lust IL
cal year was $1,312 .925. OF this sum
$4SS, 300 was paid into the city treasury
in the form of taxes and direct con
tribution, and the balance was devoted
to the sinking fund or set aside in the
contingent fund The profits have be
come SO large that the city has decided
to diSContinu" the charges made for the
use of heaters and ranges and give
them to customers rent free
For motor power a reduced rate Of
is cents Il thousand is charged, and gas
is used for this purpose in the running
Of go engines. Employed in the
Manchester gas department is an army
of 200 men, and their wages have
been steadily Increased in recent years.
After an experiment lasting nearly Il
century 1t must be conceded that the
public ownership of gas production in
Manchester shows all the earmarkS OF
success
Manchester supplies electric light and
power not only to Its citizens, but also
to neighboring towns and villages. The
city embarked on this venture i'll 1893
on what was then considered Il large
scale, making IN Investment consider
ably in excess of 100000. The first
year of operation showed loss of
about $1,000, but the following year
found II profit to It's credit amounting
to SIS, 900 The city was then charging
ated, but has gradually reduced this to
2.6S. In the mcautime its plant has
been extended until it represents an eX-
pcnditurc of SS.10o.OOo The gross prof
its last year We're $4,000. and after
meeting interest. sinking fund and 9th
er fixed charges there remained $1,000,
which was placed to the credit of the
reserve.
The enterprise is not yet on Il perma-
nent basis for the reason that it is an
nually eXpcndnG vast amounts for i'm
provcmentS and extensions, but even
during this period it has managed to
reduce its debt, increase its surplus and
pay 100000 toward the relief of rates
1t should be kept in mind that none
of these enterprises is promoted or in
any way sustained by money raised
from taxation The council committee
In charge of them 1orrowS the required
money in the open market and goes
ahead with extensions and improve
ments utterly independent of the city
treasury. l am not aware of what
would he the situation in the event OF
failure of one of these enterprises,
but presume that the city would as
sumo responsibility for the payment of
the bonds and liabilities. No such con
tingency has ever arisen so far as am
informed
1t was my privilege to examine the
official accounts and statements Of the
reproductive undertakings in the lead
ing cities of Great Britain, and they
unuurStionahly show without an exccp-
tion that every bonded obligation has
been met that proper amount has
been set aside for sinking funds. that
In large majority of instances liberal
allowances have been made for dcpre-
citation and that In every city visited or
Of which ! have reports the tax rate
has been reduced rather than raised as
result of participation i'll public enter
priscS designed to yield profits.
There Is small reason for II potter's
field in Manchester. The city main
tainS and manages mt cost three large
and beautiful cemeteries. having Il to-
tai area of 220 acres The charges for
fnterment vary according to the size
Of the plot and location and range from
$l.25 for child under one month old
to $50 for selected private graves.
These prices include all fees. including,
II desired, the services of Il clergyman.
The city also furnishes mt reasonable
prices headStoncS and monuments For
n charge of $l.25 annually the graves
are kept neatly in turf, ana for slight
additional charge flowers are planted
and cared for. BY the payment of $2J
a grave may be thus kept in pcrpetuity.
The Importance of this institution will
he realized when II is stated that the
number of lntcrmentS last year eX-
ceeded 5000. There are private Gem
eteriCs in Manchester with more pre-
tentiOus vaults, tombS and monuments,
but none Is kept in better order or has
more ideal natural surroundings The
rates are changed from time to time
so as to make these resting places OF
the dead self sustaining
Manchester has expended nearly ST.
100000 on its baths and washhOuses.