The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-08-22
A MUNICIPAL. OWNERSHIP LESSON

1t seems pity 70 again resurrect
the matter of municipal ownership of
the water plant, but the following bit
of information is worth considerable
by those who have been advocating
the purchase of the city water plant,
and will justify the Herald in doing
So The article is taken from the
Seattle Times, which paper is strenu-
ously opposing the plan for the con-
struction and operation of street car
system by the city.
Hamilton. ohio was one of the
cities of over $4,000 population which
has been held up 20 the world as an
example of the brilliant career of
its municipal owned plants-those of
water, gas and electric lights.
The former was in operation TWEEN
ty. two. the gas plant sixteen and the
electric light plant ten ycars--when
an officer of the state government. in
the regular discharge of his duties
made an examination of the electric
light plant. In this report he showed
that considering operating expenses
only. the gas and electris light works
incurred losses for the three years
ending Dec 81 1905 of S1G6Ss and
s4426 respectively. while the water
works showed "a profit on paper of
s12,79i. When the proper allowance
Is made for depreciation. interest, in
surance and lost taxes. it appears that
the aggregate loss Of these three
three plants for tile three years ex-
ceeds S23O,0OO'
can expert was brought from Phila-
delphia and in his report he said: You
are simply carbonizing 22,o0o pounds
Of coal to make coke which you are
selling at about half its commercial
value The general condition OF your
coal gas plant is in such bad repair
that YOU are simply burning UP what
little gas YOU do make
THE retorts are so congestcd with
carbon that it is impossible to get in a
proper charge of coal, and inasmuch
as the retorts are in such bad condi-
ton if you were to remove the carbon
you would simply have no retorts.
Taking the coal publication and la
Dor together he found the city was
losing S65 4 day and recommended
that the works be shut down, which
was done.
The water service is so bad that the
board is asking for 100000 with which
to rehahilitate It.
"In his report filed with the state
auditor. Special Examiner Cook said
among other things: The evident lack
of organization and concentration Of
superintendent and labor and the en-
ployment of inexperienced men to SUI
perintend important work, where both
mechanical and electrical skill were
necessary in order to understand the
needs Of the several institutions for
an economical operation and mainte-
nance existed In this department.
In the electrical department the
enormous waste Of energy. owing %
faulty construction. has raised the cost
OF production Of current to an abnor-
NAL figure.
The operating Of the gas works
has been far from -nomical. and ii is
an established fact That the eos, OF
production q liga: and power from
both utilities have a. tlmes exceed "a
The schedule r4.e charged for The ser.
VICE -apparerrty 30 attempt has eva.
baen made - TIE part y the board
20 place these properties ~ paying
basis netwls -erdsag tha ex.st@r.4.
If compe,itior ana urgen, necessity.
Here = l-ssar whleh .ne peopl.
of ~estle might rs.der wei befor.
voting 70 place another political breed
ing machine COZ iucompetents on II.
shoulders Or the taxpayers IL the con
struction and operation OF street ca