The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1906-04-20
SHOWING MADE BY
ELECTRIC MANAGERS
A Council Committee Aaks Thorough
and Complete Investigation and
the BOAad Were Highly Com
plimsntsd on Accuracy,
Neatness and Honest
AAnafemsnt.


Levy, is extremely gratifying and pleas
ing to the friends of the three gentle
men who have composed Tallahassee's
Electric Light Plant Board, since those
undesired duties were assumed by them
at no remuneration, and at a sacrifice
to their business interests. Read care.
fully every word of the report, for
since some false assertions have in the
past been thrown glaringly to the pub
lie, it is due Messrs. F. c. Gilmore,
George Lewis and F. w. Armstrong
that all interested should be fully in
formed, and all things set right:
To the President and Members of the
City Council of Tallahassee, Fla:
Gentlemen-Yourc committee appoint
ed to examine the accounts of the board
Of managers of the city electric plant
respectfully report that they have ex-
amined the books and checked every
voucher for moneys paid from the time
Of the appointment of the board of
managers to February 18th, 1906, and
find them correct.
They have also carefully examined
the receipts of the company from all
sources for the same length of time,
and checked the ledger entries Of the
same, and find them to correspond.
All Indebtedness and every bill against
the company, no matter how small, is
paid by voucher through the bank. All
bills must have the o. K. of the super
intendent, and every voucher be certi-
fed as correct and be approved by the
oh sc he, Aao ~ . l.,
fore it is paid
The books are not only accurately
kept, but so lined, interlned ard sub
divided that they show at a glance for
what purpose the moneys have been
used, and the cost of superintendent,
supplies, labor, lamps, plant. fuel. line
repairs, stationery and incidentals for
each and every month
Since the suspension of the monthly
payment of 5000 by the city for city
lighting, a considerable deficit has been
carried on the books and the manage
ment have been, and still are, greatly
hampered by lack of working balance
necessary to meet the monthly pay
ments, and the First National Bank is
constantly advancing funds for that
purpose, upon which the city is paying
8 per cent interest.
1t is the endeavor of the management
not only to retain present business, but to
secure all the new business possible, in
order to put the plant on a self-sustain-
ing basis. To secure such new bust
ness and compete successfully with the
gas company, which is now advertising
and making extraordinary attempts to
secure patronage, a sales or show room.
where fixtures can be exhibited and a
display of lights made, is an absolute
necessity, yet this cannot be done with
out considerable expenditure
In lieu of a deficit, which the books
now show, making constant advances
by the bank necessary, working fund
should be provided, and we believe
(barring accident and break down. this
can be done gradually by reverting to
the former system Of the payment Of
monthly sums by the city for city light
ing, as is the custom in other places.
Accompanying this report are several
statements. some Of which have hereto
fore been submitted to the council hy
the board, but one to which we would
particularly call attention shows the
relative cost Of light per year Of differ
ent cities from which the superintcnd-
ent of the Tallahassee plant has re-
ceivcd the figures.
Cities pay from sixty 10 one hundred
dollars per year for each arc light.
Cities approximately the size Of ITALIA
hassce. viz: Apalachicola, Lake City
and Fernandina. each pay 800 per arc
light per year. as against $27 per arc
light that the city lighting actually
cost Tallahassee last year.
Your committee are satisfied from
examination made that the books and
accounts are correct, and that the plant
has been ably and economically man.
aged, and that the managers have OBJ
tanned the best possible results from
the investment. and the council is 20 be
congratulated upon having so faithful
and efficient board Of managers.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
Your committee respectfully recon-
mend that the sum Of $500 per month
be paid TO the Electric Light Company
for city lighting
We also recommend the checking of
vouchers and examination of the books
and accounts of the Electric Light
Company annually
We further recommend that the board
of managers Of the electric light plant
be vested with necessary authority to
bring suit in the name of the CITY