The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-08-17
Donaldsonville, La, Aug. Is, 1912.

4
The council met this day. in special
session. at the powerhouse, and was
called to order at $3.50 o'clock p. M,
with Mayor Charles Maurin IN the
chair and the following aldermen
present: W. J. Leblanc and Frank
Milano, first ward; D. Ohlmeyer,
second ward; w. D. Park, third ward.
Absent-A.J. Schroeder, second ward;
e. C. Wathen, third ward.
The mayor stated that the meet
ing had been called for the purpose
Of receiving the preliminary report
of the special committee of i've
citizens appointed at a special meet
ing of. the council held Saturday,
| August 10, to look into the matter OF
financing and maintaining the mu-
lnicipaI light and water plant. Dr.
| John laibaHt. on behalf of the
comm tee, presented the following
preliminary report:
| Donaldsonville, La, Aug. is, 1912.
Ito the Honorable Mayor and Town
Council, jacksonville, La.
Gentlemen: Your committee ap-
pointed to look into the matter rela-
tive to financing and maintaining; the
municipal light and water plant IN
der the Diesel system beg leave to
submit this, their preliminary report:
i They have carefully scrutinized
every item of the operating, main
tenance, and general expense of the
:Iplant as now administered by your
/ honorable body, and find that the
i same now amounts to figure which,
i after deducting the revenues, leaves
4 an annual deficit in the plant proper
i of over $4,000.
i Your committee beg to submit that
i in their opinion it is imperative, that
the present system be changed, as
the item of fuel alone is that which
annually adds to the Indebtedness OF
the town This is matter winch
& is beyond your control and has here
tofore been the principal cause OF the
il deficit. u So far as other items are
concerned, your committee recognize
! that the plant has been conducted as
economically as it has been posi-
/ bic, though they find upon careful
j consideration that some other cur
tailments will materially reduce the
: cost of operating the plant.
= Upon close figuring your comm1ttee
5 find that under the Diesel system
: the municipal light and water plant
can be operated at a cost of $685.
, per annum. Under the present sys
= TEN, the actual cost of operating tbs
S plant is $4,000. AS you will notice
5 there will be a distinct saving Of Sill
t 1926, but your committee are confront
Il ed with situation which cannot BIZ
t met by the exercise of economy on
4 ly. The above figures are based up
on the. report which we have TO
the years 1911 and 1912, respectively
and taking the revenues of the plan
for each Of these two years, we fint
), that the same amount to abou
J $12,S46.
\ The cost of operating and main
Il taining the plant under the Diese
J system, as above set forth, is S8665
y which, being deducted from the rev
enues of the plant, leaves a net bal
$ ance of $4,000 It is evident to u
s that great difficulty will be me
u. with III financing the Diesel propose
o ton if we have to depend upon tn
I, net revenues Of the plant. We est
= mate the Diesel plant will cost som
/ $40, 600, ana an annual net reVenu
II Of $4,000 Is not sufficient for the raj
:. id liquidation Of the debt to be i
y Cured, let alone the creating of
n sufficient reserve for untoWard e.
:, pense.s.
a. Your committee feel, however, tina
y this is a difficulty which is not II
p surtnountabIe. In every munlc1pailt
I where light and water plants are ri
= under private ownership, the muni'
+ ipal administration is compelled t
budget a certain sum for its publ
lights and water. We have the II
ID formation that under that system tn
\. cost of water supply is calculated {
N $50 per hydrant, and the cost of llgf
0. per arc is estimated at s65. Th
town of DonaldsonvilIe upder the pr
n vate ownership system--the above IL
al ures being taken as bas1s-Woul
is have to pay for its water service
20 af