The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-07-15

| lis, ina.
Electric Lighting and Power.
| Public
Chicago, Illinois.
Allegheny, Pennsylvania.
South Norwalk, Conn.
Detroit, Michigan.
| DanverS, Mass
| Holyoke Mass
Westfield, Mass.
MarbIehead, Mass
Peabody, Mass.
Taunton, Mass.
Chicopee, Mass.
North Attleboro, Mass
Private
Northampton Electric Light Co.,
Northampton, Mass.
Fitchburg, Gas and Electric Co.,
Fitchburg, Mass
Salem Electric Co., Salem, Mass
Beverly Gas and Electric Co., Bev-
erly, Mass.
Gardner Electric Light Co., Gardner
Mass
Abingdon and Rocklald Electric
Light and Power Co., Arlington,
Attleboro Steam and Electric Co,
Attleboro, Mass
The Review by Mr.. Edgar and Mr.
Clark.
Mr.. Edgar and Mr.. Clark agree in
setting forth numerous objections to
mulicipalization, a very important one
being that in several British cities
which have tried public ownership, it
has been found that the organization
of municipal workmen constitutes a
serious threat against the municipal
ity itself and as a result the diSfran-
chisement of city employees ia this
country to organize, under extended
city control of public utilities, the writ
ers declare the remaining voters would
find themselves beneath "a tyranny of
democracy which is no less CALLING to
the individual oppressed and no less
detrimental to the welfare of the state
than is the tyranny of a despot-" The
remedy proposed in England; disfran-
chisement, is declared to be 'tunthink-
able" in the United States. Under
public ownership of public utilities, it
is declared, those in control of the gov
ernment are submitted to continuous
temptations; first through the oppor-
tunity to build up political machine,
with the city employee as a basis and
second. through the opportunity to un-
duly favor contractors, with the expec
tation of either financial or political
benefit to themselves.
There is little about municipal trad
ing to attract men of the first class"
| HLuSdT CldTh uulI0 III Scty
ing, I'VE have not found evidence in
the United States that the personnel
of the city government of Chicago IRE
ferring to Mayor Dunne's administra-
tion) or Wheeling is superior to that
of Atlanta or Norfolk, or that the in
PRODUCTION of municipal water and elec
trio plants in Detroit has brought a
higher type of citizenship into the gov
erning body than we find in New Hav-
en-, which has neither
Gas Undertakings.
Three American gas plants were ex-
amined by the Investigating Commit
tee and experts. These were at Wheel
ing, where the plant is operated by the
city, and Atlanta and Norfolk, where
there is private ownership and opera
ton. In addition the committee visit
ed the Philadelphia gas works and the
labor investigators visited the Rich
mo1d, Va, gas works. As to the price
charged the consumers, it was found
to be rs cents per thousand feet net
at Wheeling, S1.00 net at Atlanta and
$1.00 net at Norfolk, the municipal
plant thus selling at the lowest price.
To offset this, however, Messrs. Edgar
and Clark point out that ia Atlanta
there is free installation of service, at
Norfolk partially free installation
while at Wheeling charge is made for
the service pipe from the curb to the
meter and for the setting of the meter
In comparing the public and private
gas service, the reviewers say:
IF we consider together the price
the Wheeling consumer pays for gas
and the character of the service rem
dered, we may not doubt that he gets
less of net result per dollar expended
than does the gas consumer in Allan
l TO NnrfnIk and VARYING nrQS
sure, uncertain candle power, inf1ueno
ed at times by dash of natural gas
| Cat Wheeling) viii bring troubles tc
studying children that, while not fac
ltors in financial calculations, have 8
proper place in this inquiry. Wheel
| ling's Gas plant is not an importan'
| factor in the well-being of Wheeling
citizens. What with fast meters
charges for service and meter setting
absence of any gratuitious work. the
admixture of 15-cent. S-candle power
natural gas, insufficient and Irregular
pressure and general inefhciency II
the complaint department, Wheeling
gas is dear commodity at any price
Our experts found nothing to praise
in wheeling's service and little to cri
Iticise in the service of the companie:
at Norfolk and Atlanta
j In general. 1t may be said. so far a:
lcondition Of plant and operating efic
liency is concerned, there could no
well be a worse condition of affair
than the engineers reports as existing
at wheeling. In the other two citiel
the record regarding condition of plan
and regarding the various points o
practice mentioned above In tae cas-
Tor wheeling. while It contains a fey
4 points Of criticism, Is ON the whole sa
4 Continued ON Page Two.)