Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-03-26

Kewanee, ILL.,, 1900 population, mas
an electric light company which sells
electric lights at z cents flat to every
body in the business district. From
this one can figure how much there
is in Mr. Jones' contention that the 10
cent maximum rate in the Hull or
dinance is too high. til also suggests
why Jones will go the limit tohang onto
the IA cent rate he.now charges. Seven
cents at Kewanee and IA cents at Mar
shal1town about measures the stupidity
Of our people in to1erating 1t.
Ann Arbor, Mich, $4,000 people, uses
the same turning point as the Hull or
dinance proposes, 80 k. w. regardless Of
number of lamps. While Hull proposes
a 10 cent rate up to 80 k. w. then
cents up to 100 k. w. Ann Arbor per-
mits Tx cents up to 30 k. w. and drops
to 3.6 cents thereafter. This makes the
Ann Arbor rate almost half the Hull
rate for all electricity used above So per
month.
Elkhart, Ind. 1900 people and Hunt-
ington, Ind, 1000 people, are two cit
les in which they get a 10 cent maxi
mum rate on electric lights without
buying the plant. AT Ellkhart they
have water power to generate electric
ity and at Huntington they use steam
coal but the rates are practically the
same. It costs about as much to pay
interest and depreciation on the addi-
tional cost Of a water power equipment
as it does to buy steam coal.
Coffeyvflle, Kan, 10000 people, has
been referred to as clearing some
money" on municipal ownership of
the electric plant at cents fiat for
power. It's maximum rate for lights
Is cents up to 100 k. w. then cents.
This will give some idea as to the
actual cost Of the service and is verb
fed by the experience Of the private
owner at Jefferson, Iowa, who makes
a surplus above per cent on his in
vestment, selling light at cents up to
40 k. w. and then 3 cents. When Jones
& Hovey charge IA cents the difference
above Coffeyville's 4 cents must be
profit, for Coffeyville clears some
money" The Hull ordinance would
split the difference at 10 cents up to
80 k. W.. then cents and AZ cents.
Way up at Marinette, Wis, $1,000
people, they have 81 gas and somebody
Will probably say that they can afford
to because their send out Is greater
than IN Marshalltown. Colonel Pratt,
an expert, told US that Marshalltown's
consumption Of gas per capita was
scarcely one-third what it was in 9TH
ca s1ws::. Z. 4: the rrohshi.!.,e rate and
poor service which makes the differ
ence. Cut the rate and pipe good gas
and Marshalltown people will burn 1t.
A year and a half ago Mr.. Jones Of
fered us 31.15 gas for 1910 and the
same for 1911. Now he offers to make
1t $1.25 for 1910 and $1.20 for 1911.
Then in 1912 his former offer was for
$1.10, but now ne makes It $1.15. The
difference would cost our gas consum-
ers $1,000. He must feel more secure
in possession OF his snap than he did
year and . half ago.
Logansport, Ind, Richmond, Ind. and
Danville, Va, all have municipal power
plants and their maximum power rate
at all three places is cents. This gives
one an evidence as to cost. II 1t is ar
gusd that Danville has water power 1t
can be replied that Logansport uses
steam power. With the 4 cent rate be-
fore " how much connscation would
there be In the Z cent maximum rate
In the Hull ordinances?
Appleton, wis, 1900 people. and
Lafayette, Ind, 10000 people, both have
q maximum power rate close 10 : cents
from private ownership and steam
Dewsr. THIS = the rate ptopossd In !