South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-11-20
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP.


1t would be pretty nice right now
10 have a well equipped municipality
owned light plant.
We'd get our streets lighted at cost
then 1t might possibly be that the
electric company, using It's current at
night mostly, when the load was light
with the power shut off at the manu-
featuring plants. and might be able
10 furnish the current as cheaply as a
city-owned plant built for this pur-
pose. even though the city plant did
not have to pay dividends
And even though the current cost
as much or more than It could be pur.
chased for from a private corporation,
II would be worth having by the city
as a perpetual guarantee that no pri-
vate concern could bottle up competi-
ton and compel the city TO pay what
it asked or go without
Some cities have made a success Of
municipality owned light plants Some
more have failed. Undoubtedly, how
ever. IT would be good thing if South
Bend had a good one right now, ready
TO take over the lighting Of the city's
streets.
But we haven't. Moreover it would
be physically impossible TO build and
+ equip a plant. TO erect the poles and
string the wires before the present
contract expires Moreover. the city
hasn't the money If II had the facili-
ties, and is too near the bonding limit
for the proposal TO be even seriously
considered at the present time.
II looks as IL some people are play
ing a little politics in this light mat
ter. There is a growing suspicion that
some four flushing is being done and
some plays made TO the grand stand.
Now here's a proposition that these
municipal ownership men can stop and
think over. Let them make a care
fu1 study Of municipal owned light
plants OF the country. or get access
TO results of similar studies.
Let them find out what il cost to
build and operate these plants
whether they had water power to gem
crate the current or steam power,
and what rates they have TO charge
whether the current had TO be carried
over miles OF costly transmission lines
or was generated within or close to the
city. find out what the obstacles and
difficulties there are TO be avoided
and overcome.
This matter is serious. II means
the spending OF thousands perhaps
hundreds OF thousands OF dollars. To
plunge the city into such a serious
matter without study. without consid-
Grafton, without the most careful plan
ing. would be the rashest folly.
After the physical side Of the prob
lem has been studied. these municipal
ownership advocates may take up the
financial side OF it. If it is possible
for the city OF South Bend TO build
and operate a city owned light plant
that would pay expenses, take care Of
the interest and a sinking fund that
would automatically retire its owned
bonds and still leave Il safe margin
then II would seem 20 be a sound in
vestment- They might then take up
the matter of whether they should
advocate a state law permitting
large increase in the bonded limits of
municipalities. provided that Increase
IS TO go for the construction OF a pub
lie service plant which Will not be a
burden on the taxpayers but which
will pay its own way and stand on it's
own feet.
This Is a big serious problem.
There's nothing TO be gained by wild
statements and haphazard guesses. If
the advocates of municipal ownership
are ready TO work constructively for
years TO come. to fight the way
through the legislature. to overcome
the physical and financial obstacles,
Wen meet them half way.
OtherwiSe their arguments sound as
II made for political effect and some
one ought in kindness take them aside
and tell them that the election is over
THE SAVINGS HABIT.