Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-25
UTILITY OWNERSHIP
BY MUNICIPALITIES
SHOWS GREAT GAIN
Number of Plants So Oper-
ated Increased 81 Per
Cent. in Ten Years, Says
u. S. Report.

Municipal ownership Of electric light
heat and power plants in this country is
making rapid strides. The theory that
municipalities can construct and operate
public utility plants more economically
and with greater efficiency than can ex-
perts representing private corporations.
while 1t has not been proved to any con-
elusive extent, Is, nevertheless, gaining
ground This is made plain in a report
just issued by the United States Census
Bureau covering the ten-year period from
1902 to 1912
In the period, the number of municipal
plants increased from S15 to 1852, or 917
per cent, while the privately owned plants
Increased from 2S05 to 1868, or 3O4 per
cent.
In 1902 more than % per cent. of the
stations were municipality owned Ten
years later the percentage of such sta
tions had increased to substantially 30
per cent. of the whole number. In total
income the commercial stations had 92.3
per cent, which was greater than in
1902, when the commercial stations con-
stituted larger percentage of the total,
In that year they received only 91.9 per
cent. of the total
MUNICIPAL OUTPUT REDUCED.
The municipal stations, in output, fell
much behind in the decade. In 1902 they
produced 7s per cent. of the kilowatt-
hours, while in 1912 their production fell
to only AZ per cent, which Is less than
their percentage in 1907. when 1t was 49,
per cent. While their relative production
fell off so greatly. the municipal plants
greatly increased the capacity of their
gas and oil engines, having no less than
202 per cent. Of such engines in 1912.
But, while the percentage of gas and
oil engines owned by the municipal plants
increased so largely, the total horsepower
of all engines. turbines, waterwheels,
etc, fell off from 81 per cent. in 1902 to
IA per cent. in 1912 The kilowatt capac-
ity of the municipal dynamos also ran
down from 94 per cent. to Y2 per cent.
in 1912.
The total income OF municipal stations
increased from s6965.1O5 in 1902 to s23.-
21S, $3.50 in 1912 or 1894 per cent That of |
the commercial or privately owned plants
increased from ss5, T00,605 to 1902, ,155 500, or
252.5 per cent
The total expenses. including ordinary |
repairs and proper depreciation account |
n the municipal plants, increased from |
S,2i5,9S7 in 1912 to S16,917165 in 1912, an |
Increase of 222.5 per cent. The total ex-
oenses of the commercial plants rose from
'6S 0Sl.375 to 1924, AIS, AIS or 244.3 per cent
FOR that Increase in total expenses the |
commercial plants brought about an in
'rease in kilowatt hours from $50, ,05l lis
% II, 532 963,OO6. or an increase of 800 per \
'ent For their increase of expenses the
plants brought about an in
'rease of kilowatt hours of only 174.4
hours, in the increase, in figures, being
rom 5,9O4,439 to 537, ,526. .730
During the tive-year period from 1907 to
9l2, approximately 1O6 commercial stations
passed into the hands of municipalities
md so passed out of the hands of muni-
ipalities into the hands of private opera
ors. The greatest increase in municipal
tations took place in group of. states
of Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri,
he Dakatas, Nebraska and Kansas. The
lumber in those states Jumped from 274
0 Ss9. Arkansas. Louisiana, Oklahoma
nd Texas come next in the number of
lcreases. from SO to 1922