Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-05-29
while here to explain that while a Kill

while here to explain that while Kill
owatt is approximately one and one
half orse-power. a kilowatt hour Is
the power of a ki!owatt exerted for
sixty minutes. These explanations be-
ing seemingly satisfactory. hereafter
the unit of power will be designated in
kilowatts.
The town then Is bound to pay for
80, 900 kilowatt hours each month at
the price of 1903 or 1886 a year, $1O.72
a day.
or the amount Of current the town
is now paying for there Is being used
Is 900 kilowatts leaving a surplus of
II, 900 kilowatts that are going to
waste, or awaiting purchasers.
The power that is being utilized Is
consumed for pumping, in lighting the
streets and in private lighting.
The cost to the town per annum Of
the $4,000 kilowatts in use is as fol-
lows: 10 per cent depreciation on
fifteen thousand dollar plant $1.500:
5000 salary and wages; 1885 for cur
rent (the entire 10000 kilowatts) max
ing a total Of $6,036 per annum, or $5O3
per month. This is at the rate Of
about 81 cents per kilowatt hour.
Included in the $1,000 kilowatts being
utilized are about 1000 kilowatts that
are consumed in incandescent lights
sold to private citizens, who pay for
the same at the rate Of about 12a cents
kilowatt, or pretty close to $3.50 a
month.
AS matters now stand the town Is
paying $3.50 a month for $4,000 kilo-
watts and private consumers are pay
ing $3.50 month for 1000 kilowatts,
while Is 900 kilowatts paid for by the
town or rather the taxpayers generally
are going to waste. At least 1t costs
no more to use it than not to use 1t.
If the $1,000 kilowatts that are not
now being utilized were sold to private
consumers at the cost price Of the 15.-
600 kilowatts that are now being used,
the income for the same would be $5OS
a month, or just enough to exactly pay
all expenses, including wear and tear.
and give the town all the electricity 1t
is using or can use, without any cost
whatever.
II the town should be- able to sell its
surplus of $1,000 kilowatts, not at the
maximum rate it Is asking, 12a. cents
per kilowatt hour; but at only 10 cents
per kilowatt hour the monthly income
would be $500, which would amount
to $4,000 a year, or $11,964 over and
above free power for all the purposes
1t is now using power.
AS to whether or not the town has
any right to engage in this business
for profit is very doubtful. 1t Is clear
that IL under the existing schedule all
the available power were sold, there
would be more than enough revenue to
support the entire town government
and 1t Is equally clear that 1t would be
very unjust to ask users OF light ana
power not only to pay for light and
power used by the public but for the
other expenses of the municipality be-
sides.
From the figures given 1t would seem
that about 81 cents per kilowatt Is
about the right price for the town TO
charge for power under the existing
contract and arrangement, and after
the 5000 kilowatts that are not now
loh 10 hlen
put to work at this rate 1t Will be
about right to let the town pay one
half for the half Of the power 1t Will
be using, the private consumers the
other half for the half they will be US
ing, making the rate about II cents
per kilowatt hour.
This Is undoubtedly the correct prin-
ciple for dealing with the situation. 1t
Is possible that the figures are little
too close; but with the entire 10000 Kill
owatts sold, p cents per killowatt hour
will provide abundantly for all possible
expenses that have not yet been taken
into consideration, including interest
on such bonds as may have been used
in the construction Of the electric
plant.
All Of the foregoing Is based on the
present contract between the town OF
Yorkville and the Catawba Power
company; but 1t is well enough TO say
that within the past few weeks doubts
have arisen as to whether or not the
town has as good contract as II
might have had. These doubts do not
involve the integrity Of the representa-
tions Of the power company; but rath-
er lack of knowledge and experience on
the part of the people representing the
town, and the whole matter Is again
under inquiry.
The town as we understand, was OF
fered the option between two con-
tracts, one providing for a fiat rate
of $33 per horsepower, night and day
and the other providing for power over
the meter at $50 per horsepower
There are certain differences In the
conditions that we will not try to ex-
plain at this time; but as explained 10
the commissioners OF pubic Worhs IL
appeared that the meter rate was the
proper one for the town. 1t has been
suggested that the town has made
mistake, and there is talk of asking the
power company to allow change TO
the fiat rate contract; but 1t Is not clear
vet that the change is desirable, nor Is
it certain whether the power people
would be willing to agree.
If, however, the fiat rate Is lower
than the meter rate, then 1t follows
that the figures outlined above should
be still further reduced.
DR.. TAYLOR ON ALCOHOL.
4 LIZ.