The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1905-06-02
CONTINUED from 5th page.)

| negotiations a price of was
agreed on. OF this sum 100000 was
a bonus. while the balance represented
the actual value of the plant turned
| over by the company.
The city did not make this purchase
for the sole purpose of generating
| electricity for It's municipal use. 1t
sought and obtained q grant which en-
| abled it to furnish light and power to
all users. The advocates OF this step
nreed that numerous benefits would
follow from the installation and opera
ton of a municipality owned and OPP
Grated plant. The city would obtain
its light and power at cost. private
users would receive theirs at a mini
mum advance over the actual cost, and
manufacturers and merchants would
therefore have an advantage over out
side competitors, who were compelled
to pay rates which yielded large divi-
dends to private owners Of light and
power plants. Again, the surplus prof
its would go to the relief of lax rates,
thereby making the circle of economy
complete.
Immediately after the acquiring of
this property the tranways also came
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
We're called for. 1t was the consensus
of opinion that a pressure of 500 volts
would enable the same plant to be used
for lighting and traction and that
there would be q distinct gain as re
CARDS first cost. management. economy
and surplus power attained by ON
bination. 1t was therefore decided to
erect W large power stations.
Each station has a capacity of 90
O00 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 NC
cessful operation. and it 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 its
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 8 pence per unit.
At the present time the rates are 4
pence for lighting, 2 pence for street
lighting, 2 pence for power up to 5000
units per quarter and IL pence there
after. The charge to the tramways Is
IL pence per unit In other words, the
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 S7.500.OIl in
her electrical plant. The profits for the
year ended on Jan. 1. 1903, We're in
round figures 100000. After meeting
all charges and setting aside a liberal
amount for renewals and depreciation
the electrical department made a CON
tribution of 10000 to the tax fund. It
also paid $4,000 as its share of the
taxes The amount written of for bad
debts was less than 81 5iI1
At the present time it is likely that
Liyerpoofs investment in its combined
tramway and electrical plant will
reach S20.0E0.OD. Liverpool Is an ex-
ample of what it is possible to accom-
plish in a short time. 1t is only seven
years ago that the city essayed this
~stupendous experiment in public own
ership- II is only fair to observe that
the benefits derived from reduced rates
AID 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
hamway tickets and the rates fixed for
light and power This is rendered obi.
gatory by a clause precluding the paw.
ment OF more than a certain amount to
the relief OF taxes.
!, Liverpool is a rich and a great CITY
with broad. well paved streets, magnif.
cent public buildings. beautiful parks
n a progressive and enterprisine ad.
ministration- 1t Is one Of the worlds
: most opuient property owners. ExcIu.
sire Of Its streets. parks and its inter.
est in the miles Of docks, it owns pron-
erty which has a market price of he
tween sS5oh.oO0 and 100000.
a One may he born In a Liverpool mn.
nieiFai hospital. be educated and train.
ed in its schools and colleges, NAV carr
Z living by working for it in a score O,
capacities: he may live in q house til.
rent Of which goes to the city as hi,
landlord; he may retire ON a munsci
e pal pension. may die and be cret,ate,
{ At public expense. or his homes nay
e rest in q municipal burial ground All
{ of this Is possible despite the fact tina,
no city IN the United Kingdom fer !