The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-06-19
Makes Necessary Municipal Own
ership of Public Utilities.
Parting Words OfMr. DaIrymple,
the Glasgow Expert.
ONE STUMBLING BLOCK
In theWay of Success Is Munic-
ipal Politics.
Has Given Evidence of
Capacity to Win.

Chicago. June 19.-Mr James Dali
rymple said upon leaving for his return
to Glasgow, that the necessity for pub
lie ownership was caused by the insati
able greed Of private corporations en-
gagged in furnishing public necessities,
and that they had only themselves to
blame for the growing public sentiment
in favor OF municipal ownership and
control To this he would have added
the reprehensible practice Of political
manipulation by the private utility cor
porations had he been conversant with
the history Of American cities.
He pointed out as one of the prime
requisites for success the entire elm
inatiOn of politics from munipical man
agement.
While Chicago is cursed with the ex-
hibitiOn Of private corporate greed in
the matter Of those utilities furnished
under private management, fortunately
the public spirit of the citizens has elm
mated almost entirely the corruption in
cident thereto. This has only been &C
comphshed by independence of the
voter.
In 1854 within seventeen years after
Chicago had become an incorporated
town, the people exercised the right of
municipal ownership by taking over the
water plant Since then the city has
constructed five great intake cribs in
Lake Michigan, from two to FIVE miles
distant from the shore. has built five
large tunnels aggregating 3I7 miles in
length of from five to ten feet in diane
ter connecting these cribs with the sew
eral pumping stations, has completed
ten large pumping stations, has laid
over 900 miles of mains has placed
over 10000 MIGRANTS and over 10 900
valves, and now has a complete first
class plant actually pumping over 49,
100000 900 gallons of water a year or
1Ss gallons per capita daily.
Plant Pays for Itself.
This plant has been built, extensions
and repairs made, and all cost of opera
ton paid, wholly out of the income of
the plant itself. In addition the plant
is furnishing free service that would
cost the city under private ownership
81 900 900 per year. and has paid over in
to the sewer fund $400O0 600, and is
earning profit today of about 81 500,
600 annually. And the rates are among
the lowest OF any city in America.
The entire cost of this plant to the
city, from 1854 when it was taken over
TO the present time, including original
purchase price. all betterments and ex-
tensions. is the sum Of S37, 1854 ,923. If a
private company owned it the city
probably couldn't buy it for less thar
$Z00,O00O 900, basing the estimate upon
the amount now asked of the city by
the street railway companies for their
properties.
When it is considered that this great
property has been paid for out of the
earnings Of the plant and that water
rates have been repeatedly reduced and
that this enormously valuable plant i.
an asset OF the people, the splendid ad
Fontdges of municipal ownership arr
demonstrated beyond question 1t is n,
wonder the people Of Chicago vote al
most unanimously in favor of municipa
ownership every time the question il
submitted to them.
The same gratifying result is show
IN the 16 years experience of Chicago il
municipal ownership OF its public light
Sng plants. And this result could n,
doubt be enhanced by placing all tn
public lighting plants under one man
agement. As it is the city operates fou
public lighting plants and the three parl
districts lighting plant each. But witt
THIS cost per arc per year is only IS
Denver pays $50
High Price for Coal.
It must be remembered also that il
Chicago steam coal costs from $40 t
$3.50 per ton. In Denver steam coal cost
$40 per ton. And yet City Electrical
Carol said today that when the ney
$500 arc capacity plant is in fun opera
ton it viii produce electric current a
$40 cent per kiloEatt hour for an elev
en-hour run and for 77-1O0 cent pc
kilOWatt hour for a 24-hOur run And thi
plant win furnish both incandescent an
arc lighting.
BY virtue of an act Of the last Hi
nois legislature the way is now open [
Chicago to furnish commercial light a
soon as II can get plants of suficien
capacity When that occurs the com
n1ercial light rates viii be cut in tw
and still the city will reap a handsom
profit under municipal ownership
In the meantime Mayor Dunno is 60
ing straight ahead In the acquisition b
the city of all the street railways q
Chicago. While this may incur the out
lay of a large sum, yet the first cos
VIII soon be repaid out Of the. enormou