Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-04-26
Report From Water
and Light Plant
Abbeville. La. April. 1tLh 1918


To the Honorable Mayor and Council,
Corporation Of Abbeville, La.
Gentlemen l tlesire to call your
. attention. earnestly, TO the serious con
dition that coufronts myself and your
selves in the operation of the Wa,cr &
Lighting system; and to inform YOUR
selves that it Is positively necessary, if
You wish to continue, unintcrruptedlv,
the operation Of the system, to make
some adequate provision for its needs.
Many times have been before your
selves for this same purpose, but never
have | succeeded in fully securing your
attention and interest.
Mr.. Wermuth III his audit discovered.
and so informed yourselves i'll his report.
that the system was showing a decided
loss, which was partially accountable
for by the fact that the corporation
doesn't fully pay for the service rendered
it
This loss cannot be made up by charE
ing higher rate to private consumers.
Already they complain that the rates are
too high, Notwithstanding that our rates
are i'll line with New York, Chiago. St.
Louis, New Orleans and other large
cities, t10c per kilowatt for electric
currently
And there IS small chance Of securing
an increase of business through new
subscribers, either residential or business.
Look about you and YOU will discover
that practically every business house or
residence can that afford it has our serv-
ice, either water OF lights and in most
cases both
As far as business prospects, there are
none, at most, Only 10 residence pro-
sPcCtS. And if thew were all secured,
with our monthly minimum charge of
$50. would only amount to SIS. 90 more
monthly. Which amount is as nothing
when compared to our needs.
AS YOU all know the plant is now near
ing seven years of age, an age where
deterioration rapidly marifcsts itself.
All mechanical engineers base the life
OF a plant OF this kind at ten years and
make provision FOR complete renewal
within that time.
Considerable machinery repairs are
becoming necessary, in fact at the pre-
sent time we have s46. 80 meter repairs
and $500 engine repairs at depot
Many of our poles, crossarms, pins, etc.
are badly rotted ard need replacing. In
fact, some are positively dangerous
TO life and property.
Such is also the condition of our
wires. Many of them are positively bare
of insulation and many are rapidly losing
their insulation. This condition is both
dangerous end expensive. Expensive
because much of the current that costs
so much to generate is lost by dissipating
into the surrounding air.
Dangerous because they will either
come into direct contract with some one
through breakage, or with some tree,
building or telephone wire that will
come into contact with some person,
causing either aterrible shock or perhaps
death.
Again they may whip together in some
wind and permit a heavy charge of
electricity to enter some building and
either cause the burning out of lamp and
fuses or cause fire.
All of which creates discomfort with
our customer, through interrupted ser
vice or bad lighting, either dim lights or
jumging lights alternatly dim and bright.
But aside from the expensive upkeep
of the poles, lines, machinery. water
mains, etc, the cost of actual operation
is far in excess of our monthly revenues.
Our average monthly expenses are
as follows; Fuel S417 90, Salaries $3.50 90,
Lubricants $1,000, Packings, etc, $500,
Office supplies, phone, etc, $500, water
mains including flushing s5.75,a total of
ss704.75 monthly. Our average monthly
receipts are S650.00
Our average monthly receipts are
S65O.00.
Therefore the loss in operation alone
is manifest Where then is the money
for repairs and maintenance to come
from?
Our cost of producing current is is
cents per kilowatt. Our cost of pumping