Newark post. (Newark, Del.) 1910-1969, 1911-01-04
FIRST MEETING OF
COUNCIL FOR
THE new YEAR

NotINli lilSl DIT It's lCSuidl IuCClllS
last Monday night with d. c. Rose
presiding. There were four members
present.
After the regular routine Of business
the committee recently appointed to
investigate the conditions OF the cleo
trio light and water department, made
the following report:
The Council OF Newark
We beg to submit herewith Our re-
port on the financial condition of the
Light and Water Department.
This report is based upon an ex-
animation of eighteen yearly state
ments as issued and audited by the
various Councils.
After finding it practically impos-
sible to arrive at definite result from
! an examination of each statement sep
| arately, we have proceeded upon the
| assumption that the town has two
principal sources OF revenue
From Taxes.
2-From Light and Water Depart
| ment.
| Therefore, if it can be shown that
| larger amount has been received from
taxes than has been expended for the
town account, it would seem to indi-
cate that the difference had been ex-
pended for the support of the Light
and Water Department.
| If on the other hand it can be
| shown that a larger amount has been
| expended for the town account than
has been received in taxes, it would
| seem to indicate that the amount OF
| difference would be- the approximate
| profit from the Light and Water De-
partment
In either OF these cases proper coli-
sideration must be taken of any i'll
crease or decrease in the amount of
bonded and floating debt
Proceeding as outlined above we
| find the amount received from taxes
for eighteen years to be SIo2, ,5s7.76;
and the amount for town account dur
ing the same period including the
proper appropriations for street light
ing and fire protection to be 1880. 80,
or an excess Of taxes received over
expenditures for town account Of
$I5,677.43. To this should be added
all increase in bonded and floating
debt of 5000, or total difference Of
| $24,57 .43, which amount this COM
nittee believes represents the loss III
operating the Light and Water De-
partment for period OF eighteen
years, or an average loss per year OF
| SI,365.3o
| The amounts given only represent
the actual loss in dollars and cents
as no allowance has been made to
cover any depreciation whatever, al
though we believe il this item was
considered it would very materially in
crease the loss shown
We believe that a large amount III
labor has been charged the town ac-
count in various ways, which should
have been charged the Light and
Water Department and if it mad been
so charged it would have further in
creased the loss OF this department
In support of this conclusion the
statement for 1904 shows no labor
charged the Electric Light Dept.
Charged Electric Light Department
for 1885,. 80
Charged Light & Water Dept.
,:.t for 1896. -. .$63-73
tor 1900. o2.3I
Tor 1901. ..... o5.53
Tor f0O3.... 5o.o5
tor 1905 52.0S
These amounts are supposed to be
the entire expenditures for labor re-
CURED in these departments over the
Superintendent and Fireman's salar
les for the years mentioned.
The proposed increase in rates will
: not be sufficient we believe to put th'
plants on a paying basis, and make
proper allowance for depreciation.
THIS COMMITTEE RECON-
! MENDS-
I. That for the best interests of thu
= taxpayers it would seem to be desir
able to effect a lease of the Light aalt
i. Water Department.
+ 2. That such a lease be made for q
E years or longer.
3. That the amount received in rem
tai be not less than fair excess owe
the amount OF bond interest.
d. That the lessee be required t.
S keep up the plants and accessories ant
{ be limited as to charges.
S. That the town be protected b.
suitable bond
6. That if Council cannot effect thi
lease under its present charter, tina
the necessary changes be made i'm
mediately to make such a lease legal
}. J. P. WRIGHT,
HOWARD LEAK,
DAVID c. ROSE,
Committee.
The report was unanimously ac
cepted.
The committee was continued 70
. the purpose of getting bids for tn
lease or sale of the plant. They hav
already several companies in view
Ordinances establishing a new ligh
and water rate we're given final read
ing
This ruling will go into effect q
once.
n Notices will be forwarded to al
e property owners at an early date
On the water, rebate on 10 per cent
$ is offered to all who pay within tn
: time limit The light rents will b
: made in monthly payments.
The Elk River company's propositio