The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1913-10-02
Anent Municipal Ownership
F'rom ELECTRICAL World

The investis alton of the of street light
ing in Milwaukee, made by the Rail-
road Commission of Wisconsin at the
requeet of the lighting committee OF the
City Council of Milwaukee. has been
mentioned in these columns. The
commission found that the city would
get its service cheaper if it made con-
tract with the privately owned utility
than if it built a municipal plant for the
purpose.
The general conclusions of the COM
mission were stated briefly in the report
as follows.
cit is believed that the adoption of a
combined system of 4-amp series luminous
arcs and tungsten lamps. substantially as
proposed, with result in satisfactory
illumination az measured by present-day
standards.
What would it cost the city to build
and operate light system to supply this
servicea
| THE commissions conservative
estimate of the investment is lag. 256,
and of the annual operating expenses
$273,053. Assuming that two tungstens
are equivalent to one arc lamp. as far az
cost is concerned, the average cost OF
operation is found to be SSH per lamp
"In arriving at the operating cost Tor
service rendered by the privately owned
utility, the estimated investment was
divided between lamps on overhead and
underground circuits. The difference in
the cost as shown below is due to the
difference in the fixed charges for the
different investments. 4-amp magnetic
ares on overhead circuits cost per year
$54.9l; 6O-cp series tungstens on overhead
circuits cost per year 1862; 4-amp
magnetic arcs on underground circuits
cost per year 1852; 60-cp series
tungstens on underground circuits cost
per year 1897.
"As the computed costs include
nothing for deductions because OF un'
avoidable outage and as the Interest
charges were determined on very close
basis. the suggested rates are placed at
slightly higher figure than the costs
shown above. The following summar,
shows what the total charge to the city
would be at these rates: Arcs on over
head circuits. 2227 at SIS. $l22.405
ltungstens on overhead circuits 298 at $27
$8O46; arcs on underground circuits
1898 at $76. 1913, 700; tungstens on under
ground circuits. 81 at $40, 5000; tota
600. $226.2SO.
"The average rate. assuming two
tungstens equivalent to arc lamp, woule
be $62.25. 1t appears that the excess o
municipal operation over private oper
alton is about $46.873 per year.
The contract should specify the term
and conditions for the following matters
Period of contract kind and initia
number of lamps. burning schedule. rates
for initial lamps of each kind. deduction
for outages, rates for additional lamp
during early life of contract. rates to
additional lamps ordered during thu
three last years of contract period
location for additional lamps. compensa
ton for relocation of lamps. and sub
stitution of different type of lamps.
What is the cost of electric stree
lighting now furnished. to the city o
Milwaukee,
"The total annual operating expense
and unit costs per lamp per year al
determined by the commissions appor
toinment Of the operating expenses ale
shown below on several interest basis
Interest at rs per cent, $l75. l04. or So
SO per lamp; interest at 7 per cent. $'7I.
I04, or $73.7 per lamps; interest at o.
per cent. 67.l04. or 72.04 per lamp.
what would be the costs if 4-amT
luminous arcs were substituted for al
arc lamps on the SYSTEM
THE total estimated annual operating
expenses and the unit cost per lamp pc
lyear on this basis are as follows
similar rates of interest: Interest at l..
per cent. l63.767. or .70.65 per lamp
interest at per cent. 1882 or $50
per lamp; interest at 6.5 per cent IS. 654
or 67.l5 per lamp"