Evening journal., 1910-12-29
DROP D MAY COME
in LIGHT RATES
President Crosby Makes Init
nation While Being QuiZzed
by City Officials
GIVES DIRECTORS
BATA ON RATES


and papers. many Of them compiled
the United States Government ana
many direct from the various cities,
acked under his arm, President oscar
4. Crosby. Of the Wilmington and
Philadelphia Traction Company, went
to the rooms Of the Street and Sewer
Department last evening and con
ferred with and was Quiz2ed by the
members and members-elect OF the
LEGISLATURE from this city and Direc-
tors Sparks and Rudolph OF tins
Board of Street and Sewer Depart
ment, regarding the resolution for a
new franchise Tor the Wilmington City
Electric Company, which was present
ed to the Board of Street ana Sewer
Directors about a month ago
Contained in his budget Of papers
were copies of contracts Of different
cities, prepared comparisons OF the
rates of this city with those OF others,
showing exactly what discounts are
allowed and under what conditions
they are granted. There were eN-
haustive compilations by leading engi-
neers upon the comparative rates of
various cities With very few eX-
! ceptions, when the comparison IS car
ried out in every detail, as the NUM-
Der of lights installed, the candle
power of each bulb, the number OF
hours each light is used during the
month. and many other important con-
siderations Mr. Crosby said the rates
of this city were found TO be lower
/ than those OF others. Nor were the
cities referred to confined 70 any GER
tain territory, he said
Someone had mentioned that Jack
sonville, Florida, had maximum rate
Of seven cents per kilowatt hour,
Jacksonville is only one city in hum
dreds and apparently the people men
tioning It did not know that in Jack
sonville they have minimum rate OF
50 per month, which covers nearly 75
per cent. OF their entire business, Mr.
Crosby said This means that the
patrons must pay two dollars month
whether they use that amount OF
power or not This he said is done
10 insure the company against such
loss as might be incurred IN theil
installing a system in the house at z
Lcertain price and then the people II
Whose house the service has beer
placed, only using a possible nifty
cents worth of electricity a month
This 50 minimum rate in reality
brings the rate of electricity in tina
city up to almost the same as tha
in Wilmington
When questioned concerning tn
rates ia this city as compared wit
those OF Washington Mr. Crosby sal
that there was a great deal cheape
rate here than in the nations capita
In Washington g ten cent rate
charged with a penalty of an addition
al cent per kilowat hour If the bi
lis not paid within ten days. Here
is different" said MIR Crosby" Nobod
pays ten cents an hour if he pays hi
bills within ten days as a discount {
hve per cent. is allowed, bringing th
actual price of the lighting down
nine and one-half cents per kiloWa
Z hour"
Among his display Of data. th
president of the traction company ha
many newspaper clippings which tol
. of the situation IN many cities wheI
the movement for cheaper lightin
was being agitated or had been az
tated One Of these told how Havel
hill. Mass. a city with water powe
{ had finally succeeded after a bite
fight against the lighting interests
securing a drop in their former rat
y TO twelve cents per kilowat hour. AT
other told Of Everett, Mass, which ha
succeeded IN having their rate reduce
TO II cents per kilowat hour. Anon
the other cities OF which comparison
we're made were Knoxville, Tenn
Chattanooga, Tenn; Chester Pa
! ochester, y Y. Buffalo, n Y; S
Louis, No. Baltimore, Nd; Washing
ton. D. c.; Portland. Me; Oklanom
City, Oklahoma, Chicago, ILL., Galve
ton, Tex; Davenport La, and mar
;. more.
President Crosby said he could nj
expect the legislators TO make a STUD
of all these comparisons and the con
plications involved because It wou
: be too tiresome and would absorb Z
much Of their time.
. Nav Change the Rates.
There was a general discussion :
K the conference last night, and som
= Of those present told Mr. C-osh
{. frankly that there was widesprea
: dissatisfaction over the increase
J. rates and charges for electricity N
: Crosby intimated that there might I
q a change in one schedule Of the rate
+ that providing sliding scale ,
2 charges based on the amount of cul
: rent used
? There also was much objection e.
. pressed 10 what is termed the IT
E stallation charge
q Mr.. Crosby took up the criticism
a the number Of poles about the cit
: and he said the company would agrs
y to erect no more POLES within
: stipulated zone including the bus
ness section. I'VE want TO get rid
: the poles" said Mr.. Crosby. Il hor
to see the day when conduits will
laid all over the city"