The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-02-11
AS TO PUBLIC UTILITIES.
A Correspondent Favors Municipal
Ownership.-Private Ownership
System Built on Profit.
Editor The Herald and News:

Editor The Herald and News:
The writer may be belated, but has
seen a paragraph in your columns
from some writer hurrying up a syn
dieate about taking over the munich
pal lighting plant of Newberry. It
was noised some the ago that the
proposition had been made, but the
writer thought that the city council
would not be so unwise as to listen
to it. Is it possible that such a back
ward step has been taken?
Not long since, and before other
matters Of more universal interest
absorbed the public mind, as at pres
ent, the question of public ownership
being rife, extending even to the
consideration Of railroads, the press
lin certain parts, at least,) was flood
ed with literature by the corpora
tions, 10 prove its surety Of failure.
To this end the ablest writers were
employed, and well paid, no doubt, as
well as agents in Europe, to falsify
the facts as to public ownership
where (the trial not having been
sufficiently advanced in Ameriea) as
to street cars, gas and electric light
ing, water, etc. The object being to
discourage the move in that diree-
ton, just then beginning to make
headway in this country.
The county press where the writ
er lived published these articles per
galore, honestly believing them, but
q controversy was started which re-
suited in the total elimination Of
the ansi-municipal literature and
when a syndicate came with propo-
sitions to furnish street car service
to the county seat, the town council
preemptorily rejected the offer, de-
eiding that it must be municipality
owned. IF not too late We propose
to give a summary Of arguments pro
and con municipal ownership. In the
meantime hoping that the city coun-
ell will consider well before taking
so responsible step as giving over
its alreody owned lighting plant.
But it is said that the company Of
fers cheaper service. With all due
respect to the honesty Of the gentle
men (strangers to the writer), the
history Of all known municipal plants
speaks decidedly to the contrary.
The very nature Of the thing is
against it. a company goes into the
business for profits (and the profits
are always great). The municipality
devotes these profits to the people.
The history Of municipality owned
plants shows that their hardest ex-
perience is in the beginning; but af-
ter few years they work easier ;
their savings increase until they be-
come a source of much profit to the
public in reducing taxes.
No doubt the town Of Newberry has
peculiar difficulties to overcome. One
for instance, is in Instance to Off
portions Of the city there being but
few users Of its light to compensate
for the extent of piping, etc. No
doubt more experience is needed, al
so, which will come all right after
awhile.
A syndicate Of experts may see
where some difficulties may be bet
ter overcome, and give little cheap
er service at first. But as sure as
the sun rises and sets, a system built
on profits will be sure to discover in
the near future reasons for increase
in the price Of service.
Even so it then may not pay to the
extent expected Of such enterprises
(viz. to the amassing Of great for
tunes to the few in an incredibly short
timel-and. the first (honest) COM
pany may sell out to company not
in harmony with Newberry's inter-
ests that would prove a very Shy
lock.
The council ought to see the report
of the .. S. commission on munich
pal plants. It will be furnished on
application to this Office.
Vidi