The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1905-07-03
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP
the PEOPLES CLUB
INVESTIGATION OF PUBLIC EcrRlo LIGHT PLANTS IN sew.
ERAL CITIES SHOWS THAT THEY COST THAN uH.
DER PRIVATE MANAGEMENT THAT THE
NEVERTHELESS GET CHEAPER LIGHTING
ny JACOB wAfDECK.
Staff Correspondence to The Seat
tie Star.

ny JACOB wAfnEcK.
STAFF Correspondents to The Seat
tie Star.
PITTsnuRG. July a.-Eiectric
lighting has in recent years been
the most popular field for munic-
ipal enterprise Plants are being
erected. especially By the villages
and smaller cities. At a surprising
rate. This increase Is pointed 90
BY municipal ownership advocates
as the best Of evidence that the
municipalities are getting good re-
suits
Tho latest official statistics on
this subject were issued by tho
census bureau in the form ~ a bull
letin in 1909 II showed 2s05 pri-
waite stations established In 1881
was I 10 7. ia 1881 IL WAS n little
more than / 10 4. and IN 1901 a 1T
lie over 1 10 4 The cost % con-
strnctinE and equippiug the munic-
ipal stations IN existence az the
time % this last report was s22
o20 as They employed :. fsT wage
earneFs and paid fit22.2u In
wages
The income Of the municipal sta
tons In given an s. ass. lns. The OK
penscs. including salaries and
wages. supplies. materials. fuel
rents. taxes. insurance and Interest.
amount 20 1875 sET.
A tour Of half dozen cities hav.
inE municipal electric plants served
% show that the people In none -
these towns arc disposed 10 count
their enterprise q failure Officials
present what appear 10 be convine-
ing reports that the elites are got
ting lights AZ much lover rate
than would be granted b. private
companies
Officers Of the latter and fcw
other persons contend that the city
reports DO not fairly present the
cost % the lights. They say that
In the cost OF operation a. given
one or more such items A. taxes.
interest. depreciation. Insurance. or
damage suits are not charged
against the plants The main fact
stands out. though. that none ~
the plants is for sale
Chicago. through the efforts %
Mayor Carter II Harrison. sr- es-
tabliahed a municipal electric light
plant In 1857 The capacity was
l04 arc lights Now the arc lights
produced BY the Chicago plants cy-
coed 800. The operating expenses
incidental 10 the production of these
lights last year we're 1886 per
light
Chicago rents about 500 arc lights
for street lighting from a private
company. For these the city IL
obliged 10 pay ti05 50 per light City
officials figure that the city plants
have not only paid for themselves.
including Interest and taxes. but
have saved the city over $500 900
Wages are very high and the men
have the eight-hour day.
Politics cut no figure said City
Electrician Carroll More than
half our men have been over 10
years In the service. We do not
ash their politics.
Edward u Ellieott. who was until
recently city electrician. and had
much 10 do with the development
Of the plants. said THAT there can
be any question Of the desirabiiity
of cities owning and operating their
| lighting plants is cause for sur
prise
Carroll declares that the time ls
coming when all commercial light
ing In Chicago will be done by the
city. 1T Is inevitable" he said.
I EXPORTS who examined the city
books In 1900 added To the cost OF
operation 1879 per lamp for taxes.
depreciation and interest Officers
OF private companies say that the
lights are now costing Chicago over
800 each.
Walter l.. Fisher. head Of the Mu-
nlclpal League. and man well
posted In city affairs. said: The
/ CITY pianta effected n saving over
/ what rented lights cost when the
plants we're established The real
cost now ls between t75 and $50,
which Is less than private com
panies would charge MS for lights
/ Electric lighting Is the best place
for city to begin with municipal
! ownership because II Is compare
lively simple proposition
Despite this conflicting evidence
Il can be said that the people are
going TO decide by an overwhelming
majority AZ the next election In
favor OF the city engaging In com
merclal lighting