The Muskogee cimeter. [volume] (Muskogee, Indian Territory, Okla.) 1901-19??, 1908-08-07

plant for the lighting Of the streets Of
the city, and it believes this function
should not be undertaken by the mu-
nicipality If reasonable rates and ef-
ficicnt service can be secured from pri-
vate companies. However, the city
should reserve the right to construct
its own plant"
Referring mere at length TO the Chi
cago and Detroit municipal plants. the
report continues:
Here. again. we are confronted with
the difficulty Of getting at the real
gross cost To these cities for the Serv-
ice. In spite of the fact that the an
nual reports from the officers i'm charge
Of these plants are supposed TO state
cold facts and give every detail of eX
pcnse connected with the operation of
the plants. careful examination Of
the books and accounts by expert ac-
CuUrt3utS shows that these Off are
advocates Of a cause rather than dis
Interested compilers of statistics. For
tunatcIy, however. we are not com
PEELED to rely upon the figures rs given
by these officials, but can go directly
TO the reports of the public account
ants"
In order 20 provide Il basis for de-
tcrmining the real cost Of lighting by
municipal plant the committee sets
forth that
"Thc chief items which should be in
cludcd in any true estimate Of the
gross cost Of supplying lights to city
are rs follows:
"First Operating CoSt.-This covers
not only the cost of generation. but of
distribution and includes such items
as fuel. water. oil, wages, salaries,
rent, maintenance. repairs etc. sal
aries should include n proportionate
share of the expense Of Whatever de-
partments OF the city government are
charged with any portion Of the man
Acement Of the plant. II the accounts
are kept by the comptroller's depart
ment. then a fair proportion Of the ex-
pense ot that office should be charged
TO operating expenses. If the plant oc-
cupics part of public building usel
Tor other purposes, then Il fair proper
tion of the rent of that building should
be charged TO operating expenses. In
short, whatever supplies or services
the electric plant received from any
other department Of the city gOvs'n-
meut should be included i'm the expense
of operation.
SEC uuI. - Depreciation. - This cost
must be considered on apparatus.
building. lines, lamps aud everything
which has to do with the production
and distribution Of electricity. with
the exception Of the land on which the
building Is located. The question Of
depreciation is one on which there Is
always Il great variety of opinions. II
ii were merely the question of dupiCat-
ing wornouU machinery the percent
age of depreciation could easily he
estimated but in the electrical bust.
ness it Is not the simple wearing out
of the machinery that causes depre-
citation. 1t Is the progress of the art
of electric lighting and the rapid
ChaugcS which are constantly being
made in electrical devices and equip.
mcnt SO rapid has this progress been
that what was modern equipment ten
years ago Is now largely scrap
Scarcely piece Of machinery ten
years old but what must he discarded
in favor of more efficient and eco
Homical substitute.
Third. interest on the Investment
This should be estimated on the basis
of the average rate of interest paid on
the bonds of the city.
Fourth. - Sinking Fund. - The por
tion of revenue set aside each year tc
retire the bonds issued to build or pur
chase the plant.
Fifth. amount equiva
lent to the sum which the city loses
If 1t instead Of the private company