Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-06-01

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to be using a larger quantity pay
larger rental and those supposed to be
using a smaller quantity pay smaller
rental; but it did not work satisfac-
torily for i'm many instances the pre-
sumably small consumers wasted more
water than was used by a half dozen
or more larger consumers all Jumped
together.
| Experience soon showed that the
monthly rental idea was impracticable,
and then the meter system was adopt
ed. The schedule Of rates was at first
patterned after the schedule followed
by private water corporations and 1t
was soon found that they were "out of
sight" The rates were too high for
private consumers for domestic pur-
poses, and steam plants could not be-
! gin to touch them. AS the next move,
there was an entire re-adjustment re-
sulting in a general lowering Of the
rates, but not yet succeeding in estab-
fishing anything like an equitable
basis along lines of scientific munich
pal ownership.
The same trouble is now being en-
countered in the effort that Is being
made to reach an equitable schedule
for the sale of the electricity the town
has agreed to take from the Catawba
Power company, and although 1t may
take some time to gel the matter reg
ulated as it should De, the problem Will
not continue to give a great deal Of
trouble after the people begin to un-
derstand it in all its bearings.
| The situation of the town with re-
gard to the expense of putting itself
in a condition to use the current Of the
Catawba Power company was explain
ed last Tuesday. 1t was stated that
the town has an investment of about
ten thousand dollars In wires, appli-
ances, pumps. etc. The money FOR
this investment was raised by the sale
of bonds which are to be paid, interest
AMI principal, by the taxpayer. The
expense of maintaining the plant was
placed at about $2,4OO a year. and from
this expense there Is no reasonable es-
cape.
The town has agreed to take 10000
ki!owatt hours of electricity per month
at cost of approximately 5000. and
from that there Is no escape. Whether
II is used or not the taxpayers have to
pay for II all the same. They not only
have to pay for 1t whether they use
1t or not; but they have to pay the ex-
pens of keeping themselves In con-
dition to use 1T, and the total charge
for which they are liable Is something
over $500 month.
| We would not have 1t understood that
there Is anything wrong In all this.
We are inclined to think that the con-
tract the town has made with the Ca
tawba Power company Is a wise one,
and we do not think there is any rea-
sonable fault to be found with any OF
the other expenses suggested. But In
our opinion, the schedule which has
been arranged for the sale OF. power
to the people Is out Of joint, and needs
to be revised. And we would not have
this opinion to be taken as a reflection
upon the judgment or purposes Of the
gentlemen VINO made this schedule.
II must be remembered that not only
is the town of Yorkville still very new
to municipal ownership problems; but
it is very difficult for the layman to
readily pick up a clear understanding
of all the elements that enter into a
matter of this peculiar nature. How
ever, a careful examination Of the sit
uation will develop the existence or
certain well-known principles that
cannot readily be disputed and among
these are the following:
l. It Is not right to ask people who
do not use and who do not expect to
use electric power or light to provide
these commodities for other people.
2. 1t is right and proper for all the
reople to pay for electricity used for
Lighting the streets and for all munic-
ipal purposes.
8. It is right and proper for people
who have contributed in an equitable
proportion for the creation Of certain
icommodity, to have the use OF that
commodity on an equitable basis at a
price not exceeding actual cost.
4. There Is no question of the fact
that II the commodity referred TO
should be sold at a price In excess OF
the cost, a revenue could be raised; but
to apply that revenue to any other pur-
pose than to the benefit Of the partic-
ular people from whom 1t came and In
exact proportion to the amount paid by
each would be unjust.
5. The only manner in which sur
plus revenue from an enterprise OF
this kind can be legally expended Is
for betterments and salaries, and to
keep up with such revenue with sala-
ries alone might very easily require
that salaries be raised out of reason,
even to the realm Of graft, and on this
account If on no other account, 1t is
we'll to hold revenues down to actual
cost.
So taken all in all, in this particular
matter Of the schedule Of charges for
the electric current 1t Is highly import
ant that the whole thing be readjusted
on a proper basis of municipal owner
ship at once. That this can be done
there is no question. 1t Is easy enough
to ascertain how much electricity the
municipality Is using. We already
know how much it Is paying for. Then
calculate the cost of that which 1t Is
using as equal to the amount 1t Is pay
ing for, make the price Of the whole
equal to the cost of that which Is be-
ing used let the individual pay just
the same per klowatt as the munich
pality, and the whole thing is adjusted
If the expense of operation increases
later on, the increased expense can be
met by the advance of a fraction Of a
cent per kilowatt in the cast to the
| individual consumer and to the town,
and the thing is adjusted. If the eX-
pense Is lessened then a decrease In
the cost to the consumer will be just
as easy. But let the town and the In
dividual consumer pay exactly the
same cost per kilowatt, and see that
both together pay only the exact cost
of production and the whole matter Will
be settled as 1t should be, exactly
right.