The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1911-06-07

honorable body by an exhaustive dis
cussion of the general question of
municipal ownership. but desire 20
call attention to two or three ex-
amples Of what can be done in the
way of municipal lighting systems.
We have in the largest city of our
state, conspicuous example of a
| successful enterprise of this nature
The city charter of Seattle provided
for the submission to the electors Of
the city Of the question as to the
requirement of a plant or system for
supplying light and power
In accordance with a resolution of
the city council. the board of public
works submitted a report to that body,
dated January 2sth. 1902, outlining
plans and submitting estimates for
such a plant or system.
Under ordinances approved January
3lst, 1902, the matter of authorizing
An issue of bonds In the sum of $780,
900 for the purchase or construction
of light and power plant. as out
lined in the report OF the board OF
public works aforesaid, was submit
ted to a vote of the electors, and
the proposition was carried by a three
fifths vote at the regular municipal
election held on March 4th, 1902.
Construction work began in April.
1902. On October 14th, 1904. at
o'clock p. m, the large generators
were sta rted by Mayor r. A. Ballinger
and City Engineer r. II. Thompson.
On January 10th, 1905, current was
delivered at the sub-station in Sc
attic.
The demand for power supplied by
this plant grew at such a rapid and
unexpected rate, that it became nee
essary to make subsequent bond issues
and to increase the capacity and ia
cilties
Although all bonds issued are gen.
eral bonds of the city of Seattle and
payable, both principal and interest
from general taxation. the lighting
plant has not only paid its operating
and maintenance and depreciation
expenses since it began business, but
it has also repaid the interest fund
from the earnings of the plant, $751;
000 leaving a balance of S150.000 tc
be repaid, 100000 Of which is pro-
vided for from the earnings of 1911
when sinking fund can be started
to liqudate the bonds.
The present generating station is
located on Cedar river, and contains
two generators Of 1900 k. W. rated
capacity each, and two generators OF
10000 k. W. capacity each, driven by
impulse wheels and turbines
The pipe lines from the dam at Ce-
do lob oh Will S
and the current generated is conveyed
to the city at $4,000 volts by two
transmission lines about forty miles
long.
The current is delivered to the sub
station on Yesler Way where it is
stepped down and distributed through
out the city and where is located
motor-generator set for supplying di-
rect current, as well as the other
necessary apparatus
The city of Seattle has on hand now
a project to construct a standby sta
ton right in the city, being fortunate
in the possession of a head of water
from a reservoir in the neighborhood
of Lake Union.
The pipe lines and transmission lines
are in a densely forested, mountain
Gus region, and the severe conditions
as regards construction and mainte-
nance as we'll as the length of the
ira nsmission line. contrast strongly
with the favorable conditions sur
rounding the plant proposed for North
Yakima. These conditions do not.
however. prevent the Seattle plant
from being very profitable and
beneficial institution. With such heavy
expenditures and the necessity for
building up the business, it did not. OF
course, yield net profits at the start
but the success which it has now
attained is very evident from con-
sideration Of the following figures:
For the year 1907 the surplus rev.
enue of $24,OS6.36 wiped out all but
s5.S15.S2 of the deficit for the first
two years
During these three years. however,
s10S.6S750 was charged off for in
terest on the bond and sS4,737.37 fol-
depreciation.
The total deficit for the three years,
after providing for interest and de-
probation, operating and maintenance.
was $5,S15.S2.
For the year 1908, the revenue
shows a surplus of $26,533.4S, which
wipes out the deficit OF $5.S15.S2 left
over from 1905 and 1906. and leave
balance to the credit of the plant
of $20,71766.
For the year 1909. the revenue
shows a surplus of s99.459.2s
In 1910. the total gross revenues
were s59S.51492, and the total OPP
Grating expenses. s299,550.I6. leaving
revenue surplus after providing for
perating maintenance, reconstruction,
interest and lost accounts. but before
providing for depreciation of $685.
e6416 If from this we subtract the
Item of depreciation, s195,237, there is
left a net revenue surplus consumed
| by construction and liquidation of liza.
bilities of s103,427.16.
Taking the costs per k. W. h. for
the commercial load as distinguished
from the street lighting, the cost Of
operation during the year averaged
so00476, depreciation s0.002S2, the
sum of which is $0.0075S adding in
terest so.00136 and generating cost
tS00O4S4 we obtain a total of S.0137S
As the average revenue was sO.0172S
the average gain was s0.00350 pei
| k. W. h.
The above figures I have direct
from the lighting department Of tn,
city of Seattle and there is no ques-
ton as to their correctness.