Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-11-18
WILL FURNISH
LIGHT FOR CITY
Continued From Page ~

bonds, $33,S35.63, left $14,166.26 avail
able for improvements, in addition to
all moneys received from taxes and
other sources.
The net earnings from operation for
the 10 months of 1913, not including
receipts from taxes and without de-
$15,895.60.
It is safe conclusion that the net
receipts from all sources for the year
1914. including taxes and cash on
hand at close Of present year, will be
in excess of $4,000.
The present wood dams, though ap.
parently stable for several years, are,
through leakage which cannot be pre-
ventrd during a low stage of water In
the river a source Of loss to the city
by preventing the full utilization of
the power that would be obtained II
they were replaced with concrete con-
struction.
During the IS months that the city
has owned the water works fuel used
has cost, exclusive of the amount used
for heating purposes, 1885. II We
exclude the time that water power was
not used on account Of repair work on
wheel house and tail race, we have
averaged approximately IN months
each year with water power and AZ
months with steam. The expense for
fuel when running the works BY
steam is about $3.50 per month. Dur
ing said IS months there has been less
than one month all told, when with
dams that did not leak, We would not
have been able to run the plant BY
water power exclusively, and thereby
saved a fuel bill of not less than
5000 per annum In the operation Of
the plant as now constituted.
Z With the completion of the present
improvement, in deepening and widen
ing the tail race, it will require an ad.
ditional expenditure of approximately
900, to cover the construction OF
concrete dams, the purchase Of neces-
sary water wheels and machinery at
the power house and wiring the city
for electric street lighting.
With the concrete dams and the
machinery contemplated, ATS horse
power can be developed at the average
low flow Of water In the river There
would be times, when on account Of
extreme high water, the water power
would have to be supplemented or re-
placed by steam but such occurrences
would be rare and generally Of short
duration. But in the event of tenn
porary loss of the water power, from
any cause, we already have 900 horse
power boiler capacity to produce
steam.
OF the ATS horse power estimated to
be developed by water power 225 horse
power would be required by the water
plant and 1876 to $50 horse power Obs
horse power being the quantity now
used, for street lighting, leaving a
surplus of 80 to 115 horse power which
could be used for extension Of street
lighting or, If not used by the city,
would find ready market for COM
mercial purposes.
The present cost Of lighting the
city streets and parks is about $4,000
per annum, the present contract for
street lighting expiring March !, 1915.
It is quite probable that a new con-
tract for such service can be made for
a much less sum than now paid but the
fact still remains that it Is a good
business proposition for the city to
do its own lighting when 1t owns an
ample supply Of the cheapest known
power and needs only to expend the
necessary amount to utilize the same.
On the basis Of the expenditure OF
$125, 900, to cover the cost Of improve
ments as outlined, it would be neces-
sary to submit to vote of the people
the proposition to issue 100000 s per
cent bonds, the water works being able
to provide, through receipts from taxes
and earnings during the coming year,
the necessary additional $4,000.
If our recommendation is approved
and the bonds issued, we would sug-
gest that they be made payable 100000,
each. in 2, 8, 4, s, 6, Z, 8, 8, 10, and II
years. Then continue the present
light levy, mills, for the first year to
pay off the present light Indebtedness
and one-half Of interest on bonds; and
each succeeding year sufficient light
levy to pay off $4,000 of principal and
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