The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1906-06-28
TURN ON THE LIGHTS.

trio light plant, and to that end duly
voted bond issue OF Ten thousand
dollars. The plant has been erected
and is now in operation. Those who are
able have, with the help OF the town,
installed lights in their homes. Our
streets, except when the moon shines
and on occasional dark nights, are
brilliantly lighted up to midnight,
and many are of the opinion that the
establishment OF the electric light
plant was long step in the right d.
rection and that the cost OF malnte-
nance is nothing when the benefits de-
rived therefrom are taken into con-
sideration. Others, and they are nu-
merous, however, are of different
opinion and maintain that the cost OF
the plant is greatly in excess OF the
benefits which it affords, and that the
taxpayers. the owners OF property Ia
our town, are not only being taxed
that our streets may be we'll lighted
but are bearing the additional burden
OF contributing to the lighting OF the
homes of those in our town who haye
placed electric lights in their rasden-
ces. There is really no cause for this
difference of opinion. The facts are to
be had, and if those in whose possess
ion they remain will give them to the
public all discussion will cease. A
clear and explicit statement OF what
has been done with the money which
has gone into the Town Treasury dur
ing the past year will give the public
a better estimate of the cost OF It's
electric light plant than will the in
complete statement OF correct &C
count duly audited and authenticated
by committee OF commissioners. 1t
is merely matter OF simple addition
and subtraction, and the matter is ex-
planned We confess that the state.
ment rendered is rather difficult to I'm.
derstand, in fact, unfathOmable tC
those who do not know tor what The
various expenditures were made, anC
in view of these circumstances, ant
being among those who maintain tina
the electric light plant is being oper-
ated at great loss to the town, We
have made a calculation OF our own
and have not gone outside of the state
ment approved by the Board Of TOwr
Commissioners to make it. If we err
in this fcalcuiation we respectful,
ask that that those in authority viii
show US our error if we are right ant
the Board is wrong. then in justice t.
Che Taxpayers Of cur town, OF course !
will acknowledge its error, however
the board Will do neither the one no
the other, then we leave it to the tax
payers to say whether or not we arr
justified In making the calculation be
low, whether the cost of the electric
% light plant FOR the year beginning Ma
1st, 1905, and ending April 30th, 1906
has been $560.0S, according to tn
statement of the Board of Commission
ers appearing in the issue OF this pape
ofJune 2lst, or whether the cost to til
town of this plant has been $416.2
exclusive OF sundry credits receive
from the plant. II our calculatiO
which shows the latter figures to b
the cost OF the electric light plant t
our town is incorrect, than will th
Town Fathers kindly inform US f
what the expenditures of 1861. 2
have been made?
The calculation is simple-the resu
inevitable
INCOME FOR 10000.
Balance on hand May lst, 1905, 1882
Privilege Tax 260C
Levy l9O5-O6 400 :
Fines 49,
Total income 1881
Amount on hand from above 919;
Amt expenses for 1905-06 $4O11.t
The statement above, referred I
shows tho following amounts to hay
been spent In behalf of the town, 9th,
than for the electric light plant;
S. B. Kltchin for lumber s 20:
A. Strickland line fence GENE
terry j.:
G, H. johnson for salary 32(
" " street and bitches 34.|
" " cleaning privies So
G. Lamb holding polls IL
G. H. Herring holding polls l.
E. e. Hilllard for books %:
VI. II. JOUHsUA SaidIy %
1" 32t
d. M. Prince holding polls IL
J. E. Woolard for work u
Futrell-Hardy Hardware Co. (
S. F. Dunn hauling dirt "a
&c &.
G. Fl. Johnson for prives SO
Hoffman account .
r. H. Smith tax list 50.
G. Fl. johnson fer streets and
bitches 50.
G. II. Johnson 3 mos. salary 90.
Ben Burgess rebate :.
G. H. Johnson for priyies So.
2 mos. salary 3d.
street work II.
S. B. Kitchiu G..
DIR. Clark Supt. health ia
G. III. johnson salary 80
Brantley for work 2
E. w. Lyman for hauling 5.
Dudley Bryant for small pox 81
A. G. Livermon hauling dirt u
Whitley Grocery Co., for small
pox II
J. A. Kitchiu for wood )
G. III. Johnson for work On street "a
salary 80
J. Z. Woodland for dray 2
g g q
work on pump .
Whitley Grocery Go. for small
pox "a
G. H. Johnson salary 80
Iohor Al
d" %
+" " privies Sc