The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-06-05
LAKELAND'S LIGHT
AND WATER PLANT

The report of the city manager
published in the Telegram yesterday
is interesting and Illuminating. 1t
shows that even under the present
observation-disclosures conditions the light
and water plant owned by the city
is paying handsomely. 1t strength
ems the opinion already held by a
very large proportion of the citi-
zens of Lakeland that it would be
folly to sell this valuable property
and exchange municipal control for
private ownership 1t also estab-
fishes conclusively the fact that in
order to reduce the rates on electric
current and water a plant must be
installed which will insure more eco
nomic production than the present
inadequate machinery. Indeed, I'M
less something is done before the adj
vent of the winter season there is
probability of serious breakdowns.
with resultant Interruptions of SER
vice and very annoying experiences
on the part of the people, who are
liable to be left in darkness or with
out water supply. This condition is
due solely to the rapid growth of
the city. 1t is hardly reasonable to
contend that improvements put in
tour years ago should be adequate
now because they were adequate
then. The Telegram knows of
private concerns in Lakeland that
nave had to replace their entire
equipment during the past four
years with enlarged and modern ia
cilities due to the changing condi-
tions. 1t is only reasonable to expect
that the municipal light and water
plant, one of the largest and most
important institutions in the CITY.
and the quickest to feel the pres
sure of the community's growth,
must also be provided with eouip-
ment to enable it to respond to the
Increased demands.
10 use an expression trite and
homely, but truthful, we cannot eat
our cake and have it, too. We can
not keep our money in our pockets
and yet have an up-to-date and ade- .
quate plant. We cannot be fur I,
nlshed light and water at cost of :,
and yet make extensions
Of lines and mains with the earn
ngs of the plant. But by providing
BY bond issue at once for neces-
'ary extensions the plant is freed
rom that burden and its product
AN be furnished at cost; and by in
sailing a plant equal to the needs
II the city this cost of production
will be reduced to the minimum.
The city manager figures that with
proper equipment current can be
at cents per k. W. and
water at II cents per thousand gal
ons. These are very low rates. A ,
opy of the ordinances of the City ,
Il Pensacola, Just received. shows ,
hat the minimum charge for water
n the year 1911 was 40 cents per
thousand gallons, though this rate
as been reduced until the minimum
barge is now % cents per thousand.
is probable that the rates forecast /
or Lakeland are as low as those of l
ny city in the State--perhaps lower. c
1T has been objected that no pro- /
ision is made in the city managers o
cures for retiring the bonds. The |
EN- of $4,000, representing 10 per S
mt depreciation in machinery, t
)uld be left almost wholly intact C
n this purpose, Further, the fig
res are based on the output of the
resent plant, which could be great
increased without corresponding
crease of expense with proper
uipment. This additional output
Guild be largely net earnings which
uld join with the item under the
'ad of depreciation in creating an
equate and rapidly accumulating
hiking fund for the retirement of
e bonds.
The Telegram feels that the agita
IN, and the discussions that have
peared in its columns. will all tend
bring about better conditions.
lis is what we are all striving for.
rhaps it might be well to get fur
er expression from the people by
ans of a general mass meeting in
itch the various phases of the sit
ton might be calmly and judi
lily discussed. We would like to
such a meeting called.