Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-04-04
[copyright, 1so4, BY E,rederick upham Adams.l

into the possession OF the city, AND the
question arose whether or not to make
one generating system serve for all
purposes. The opinions of experts
were called for. 1t was the consensus
Of opinion that pressure of 500 volts
would enable the same plant to be used
for lighting and traction and that
there would be a distinct gain as re
CARDS first cost, management, economy
and surplus power attained by COM
bination. 1t was therefore decided to
erect two large power stations.
Each station has capacity of 90
600 horsepower, but so great has been
the demand made on them that new
ones are needed, and some have already
been constructed. England has learn
ed to use the refuse swept from the
streets for fuel. Several small power
stations deriving their power from the
burning of the refuse are now in sue
cessful operation, and 1t is expected
that the total supply from this source
will reach 10000 horsepower. A few
years ago Liverpool spent large sums
of money for the purpose of throwing
this material and its stored up energy
away. When the plant passed from
the control of the private company it's
output was less than 100000 units.
1t has grown in seven years to ten
times that amount.
When the city purchased the under
taking from private interests the rate
charged for lighting was ~ pence per
unit and for power ) pence per unit.
, At the present time the rates are 4
pence for lighting, 2 pence for street
lighting, pence for power up to 5000
units per quarter and IL pence there
after. The charge to the tramways is
1.2 pence per unit. In other words, the
price has been more than cut in half,
and this has been done despite the fact
that the price of coal, oil and every
item Of expense has decidedly in
creased since the city took control Of
the plant.
Liverpool has invested $7,500,000 in
her electrical plant The profits for the
year ended on Jan. /, 1908, We're in
round figures 100000. After meeting
all charges and setting aside liberal
amount for renewals and depreciation
the electrical department made con-
tribution of 100000 to the tax fund. 1t
also paid $4,000 as it's share of the
taxes. The amount written off for bad
debts was less than $1,000.
At the present time it is likely that
Liverpool's investment in it's combined
tramway and electrical plant will
reach $20,O00,O0O. Liverpool is an ex-
lample Of what it is possible to accom-
plish in short time. 1t is only seven
stupendous experiment in public own
ership. 1t is only fair to observe thai
! the benefits derived from reduced rates
and improved services far outweigh
the direct money profits. AS the inter
est charges decrease steadily year by
year it is the settled policy of Liverpool
to yet further decrease the price Of
tramway tickets and the rates fixed fol
: light and power. This is rendered obi
, gatory by clause precluding the pay
ment of more than certain amount t,
: the relief of taxes.
Liverpool is rich and great city
} with broad, well paved streets, magnif
, cent public buildings, beautiful park
and progressive and enterprising ad
4 ministration. 1t is one Of the world
= most opulent property owners. Exclu
3 sive Of its streets, parks and Its inter
t est in the miles of docks, it owns prop
3 erty which has a market price Of be
' tween $s5,O00000 and $9O,O00,000.
: One may be born in Liverpool mu
: nicipal hospital, be educated and traiI
: ed in its schools and colleges, may ear
: living by working for it in score Q
e capacities; he may live IN house tn
rent of which goes to the city as hi
e landlord; he may retire on munic
/ pal pension, may die and be cremate
8 at public expense, or his bones ma
8 rest in municipal burial ground. A
Of this Is possible despite the fact the
i no city in the United Kingdom offers
i better field for individual effort, nor
t there any community where private Ell
: terprise is surer Of material rewards
! The uninquisitive stranger never rea
; ICES that SO many services are admin
, istered by the representatives Of th
taxpayers and in their behalf.
/, Liverpool has its "old city," the sam
as London, and that ancient corpori
} ton still has special privileges and d
) rives vast profits from grants and e
: tates which have been handed dow
: for hundreds of years. But, like Lol
8 don, the nominal benefciaries do NJ
? dare to appropriate to themselves MOI
3 than modest share Of these 1.-THE
and they are awaiting the inevitab
: time when the scepter Of OWNERSHIP
t will be taken from them.
To Mothers In This Town,
ch;ldren who are delica re- fayeris