The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-04-07
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE
LEST WE FORGET.
Ed Palladium:

Under the above title We think II
well to call the attention of the tax
payers, who are the owners of the
| Municipal Light Plant of the City OF
Richmond to the indirect advantage
that the City of Richmond gained
from having built the Municipal
Plant.
Item One:--Population of Rich
mond 10000; average family. five peo-
Pile, therefore there must have been
1000 using some form of gas or cleo
trio light in the City of Richmond
prior to the building of the Municipal
plant. These 1000 family heads had
on deposit with the Light, Heat and
Power Co. an average of $3.50 each
for meter rent. When the Municipal
plant was built the City charged
nothing for meters, The Light, Heat
& Power Co., seeing itself losing It's
business daily, called in these 1000
meter deposits at $3.50 each or In
round numbers $4,000 of the PEG.
pies money was returned to them,
therefore a saving of 6 per cent per
annum to the people on $4,000 which
equals $4,000. .-.a t" '
Item Two present there are
1000 electric light users in Rich.
mond. 1t is not disputed that these
1000 electric light users are getting
their light for 25 per cent less money
than those less fortunate individuals
who are using L. H. & p. Co.'S gas
Thy the way, the L. H. & p. Co. has
not seen At to reduce the price of
gas.) 1t Is an extremely liberal esti.
mate to say that of the 1000 electric
light users, each would average $500
q month for light or, In round mum.
bers total Of $4,000 a month for cleo.
trio light. There has been a reduc.
tion of as per cent on this item alone.
Here there is a saving to the users
of $500 a month or in round numbers
$4,000 year.
Item Three:-The 1000 people US.
ing electric light suffer practically no
damage or deterioration in households
for this account. To the 1000 who
are using gas there is an average de,
teoriation for damage of smut, dirt to
draperies, wall paper, inside furnish.
ings. curtains. carpets. ETC., Of SO
cents a month to each family or to
the 1000 families a deterioration per
month OF $1,000 on account of dirty
light. This item for one year aggre.
gates net sum of $4,000.
Item Four:--When the Light. Heat
q Power Co.. was in control. the West
colt Hotel Co., paid the sum for light
and power OF $4,000 year. The West.
colt Hotel Company is buying the
City, light today and their invoices
show that they pay less than $500
per annum for the same service. The
net gain to the Westcott Hotel Co.,
is $1,000.
And now to summarize the items:
Item Interest on meter
dccount ..'..... ..........$ oft
Item 1000 lights used at
$1.00 a month each net 81
900 a month, light at rs per ..
cent discount net savings
$500 month, net savings
| per year eUUl
Item 3-Savings from dete-
ioration account soc a
month IS a family on the
1000 heads each are using
electric light. total ......... 12,00t
Item 4-Westcott Hotel
| Company paid over $4,000
| year in the Light, Heat &
Power Co.'s administration;
$500 under the Municipal
Plant administration. net
savings of these four items
| alone on the account of the
Municipal Plant .......... 20.04(
This alone shows net earning II
favor OF the Municipal plant of near
ly per cent on these indirect items
Does anybody suppose for instancs
that these conditions would prevail Il
the City of Richmond had not. bull
this plant? Bear in mind these fig
ures are not the direct figures at al
OF the plant but only the savings o.
the plant with less than one half, o.
the people using current.
The Municipal Plant is responsible
for the present condition. 1t is goot
investment. 1t is the club tina
makes every fellow behave himself
Suppose the Light. Heat & Powe,
Company concludes that 1t wants t.
cut the price OF electric current In thu
middle? Let them do so. Let the Cit,
Plant run on. In this instance give
the city plant credit for the cheal
current the Light. Heat & Power Co
furnish and only hope that the l.. H
& p. Co., will continue to furnish thii
cheap current. But do not for on,
instance imagine that they woult
do this IL 1t was not for the presenc,
OF the City Plant. Keep the Cit,
plant. 1t is good thing for the cit,
OF Richmond and 1t is the salvation
for the people so far as light Is con
cerned. CITIZEN.
SIXTH DISTRICT EDITORIALS.
The Richmond Palladium is now is