Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-02-22
Prepare For The Future.
"Citizen" Sees Need of Leg
islatiOn for Present and Future
Benefit of ThurmOnt.


EDITOR CAToCTIN CLARION
There is one-half the session of the
Maryland Legislature gone and have
not read of any bill being offered to as
sist our Electric Light Plant over ex-
tremely dry periods of which we had
for three years prior to last season. We
may not have another for some years to
come, bat it is we'll when you have a plant
with all the necessary equipment, so far
as the electrical machinery is concerned,
not to wait, but be prepared for their re-
turn. For the past six month five times
the motive power we are using is going
to waste running down the stream and
will continue for to 10 months in the
year all for the sake of an expenditure
of two or three thousand dollars to put
in an auxiliary power plant to tide over
these periods. Some will say we are do
ing very we'll, and let we'll enough alone.
l will try and prove by figures the ne
cessity of auxiliary power, in order to
cheaper our electric lighting bills and
furnish day load. I do not know the
exact figures that the town is receiving
for current, but understand it is nearly
two hundred dollars per month these long
winter nights. Striking an average of
$3.50 per month and four hours per night
the result would be, for private use, II
X. W. per hour or A per night, 1920 per
month, at 10 cents would be 1882, or
1854 per year.
For street lighting; 4 X. W. per hour,
40 per night, 1900 per month at same
price $3.50 or $l44O per year.
If the town was paying the same as
her citizens, the present revenue would
be about $4,000 per year upon fixed
charge of $500 or sl4OO, and only using
.bout ID K. w. power per hour.
We have one 80 and one so K. W. gen.
orators, or 80 in all. We are therefore
'nly using one-sixth of our power and
hen only for four hours out of "a, and
'ne-twentieth for six hours longer.
The Electric Light and Power Plant be-
longs to the citizens of Thurmont, and
every citizen should be treated the same
so far as payments and benefits are con-
cerned. AS it is at present the consum-
ers of electric light are paying the fixed
charges and operating expenses of the
plant, which carries with 1t the lighting
of the streets of the taxable limits and
also the roads for half mile leading out
of the town. Over one-half the citizens
reap the benefit of this lighting without
paying one cent additional tax. Other
towns pay from $1,000 to $l4OO for the
same light.
This is not written to censure, but to
show those who still burn the oil lamp
that the town has the power going to
waste; that it can light all the houses and
and have electricity to spare, and if they
all take it, the electric light bill can be
cut in half. If they don't take it, the
street lighting should be put in the levy
for the taxation, then all will be upon the
same footing.
1t was intended when the plant was
put in to carry day load, but after it's
being one of our dry sum-
mers, no effort was made to get any, as
the water was so low, we had not the
power to furnish it. 1t would not be
polite to solicit it without putting in aux
iliary power to carry over these periods.
The town should put itself in position to
guarantee the power at all times, and
even at 2 cents per X. W. hour and
day load of 80 X. w. would bring in
revenue of $500 per year. Even the
one-half of that power will pay we'll to
invest in the auxiliary power. 1t will
also insure those taking light that they
can depend upon it at all times.
Let's have meeting of the citizens and
decide if we want it or not.
ryrI0CN