New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-22
THE cTTrs RIGHT TO IT'S OWN

The question Of the city'S use of the water
power Of its new water supply for municipal
lighting purposes may perhaps be open 10 dis
pute upon the ground of expedency 1t should
not be upon the ground of right 1t is init
mated that, as result of the investigation now
in progress, some provision will be made for
the city'S own lighting plant at a much earlier
date than that AT which the waterwOrks plant
can be constructed. If so, well and good. We
are DESTROYS Of seeing the lighting arrange
ments of this city redeemed from their pres
ent wretched state at the earliest possible mo-
ment But what valid objection does that in
terpose against the city's use Of its own prop
erty whenever il is able 10 make profitable use
Of it, Any immediate arrangement for a mu-
nicpal lighting plant would probably involve
a considerable cost for the artificial generation
Of power. No doubt it would pay the city to es
tabIish a plant even under such conditions But
why then. should it be debarred from using a
little later the vastly more economical natural
power which it viii have at its command and
which otherwise viii be running to waste? Let
us have such immediate relief as may be pos
sible, as outcome of the Stevens investiga-
ton. 10y all means. But we cannot see that
that viii be the slightest reason for not utiliz-
ing the water power of the citys own reser-
yors dams and falls.
The right of the city to provide its own light
ing plant is already conceded. In fact, such
plant has for some time existed and been in
highly successful operation, on a small scale
Steps are now being taken 10 extend the sys-
tenn. On Thursday afternoon last Commits
siOner Best opened bids for the construction
of city lighting plant, TO be built under the
Williamsburg Bridge. TO light that bridge and
neghborlng parks ard public buildings We
have not heard that anybody at Albany pro
poses legislation to stop these proceedings. We
assume that the city has a perfect right to es-
tablish and operate these plants and TO extend
them, If it tit, as to provide all its
public lighting from them. The proposal IN
the Mayors water bill, therefore, is not revo-
lutionary. It aims at no startling new depart
ure" 1t provides for nothing more than fur
Their development Of an existing system and a
further application OF a principle which has
long been established and approved Under the
Williamsburg Bridge the city will be operating
plant upon its own ground, with it's own
power Why. IN the name Of reason and con
sistency, should it not be permitted 10 opera te
a similar plant Inlet us say-UlsteF County on
its own ground, which it has purchased and
paid for, and with ifs own water power, for
which also It has paid full prlee7
1t certainly seems as though the refusal OF
the legislature to grant such permission to the
city-if, indeed, the city needs such permission
and would not have the right 10 go ahead with
such works in the absence of any special leg
isatiOn upon the subject-would SAVIOR grossly
of invidons discrimination Of a twofOld nat
IRE. II would be a discrimination against one
part Of tire ciiy's property in refusing such use