La Junta tribune., 1914-08-22
MUNICIPAL Laoar rLAxr.
Gpsns Oasssva1iaas ~ Or CITY IN.
ginser a Or Proposed Msaiei.
~ Nghe Plans.

gfneer - Or rsoppsed Mnnici.
~ Nghs Plans.
II view Of the fact that the Quss-
tion Of . municipal electric light
paant b of intsrsst 70 The citizens Of
Il Junta at The present time. per-
Aaps . few words In regard 70 the
sams viii not - amiss for the pur-
pose Of stimulating thought ana
arousing discussion over some points
which ars In some danger Of being
overlooked. The idea Of . municipal
electric light plant is not = new or
novel one. such systems being already
In operation In various cities. with .
fair degree Of success In many In.
stances. IN fact. think In nearly ali
instances whore proper safeguards
wsre aAoptsd and adhered TO In the
construction and operation Of the
same.
There are many reasons why mu-
nicipal ownership OF public utilities
10 adapted TO modern conditions and
tread Of thought. These reasons arc
familiar 70 every one. and Il ID not The
purpose Of this article to conaider
them. although possibly Il may be
taken up IN . later article. this being
simply 70 point out In what way mu-
nicipal ownership IL sometimes. At
least. less Of . success than Il should
be. -
When . corporation builds plant
for the manufacture OF any commod-
ity. and light and power Ii . manu.
factured article. the following items
OF expense must b considered and
provided for: Cost OF construction.
and the acquiring Of necessary real
estate and obtaining = franchise. II
II IL necessary to use any public prop
erty such ~ streets and roads. Thia
10 the initial cost. and the money for
thoDDs 1elessalIy raised by the sale
Of bonds.
Ths operating expenses. which
nuse - nst OFT es tAs earninss, viii
~: Isessel9 = ~ b01ss . s1ak'
tng 'fsnd's ~ sSg1ss - bonds - they
bseoae Aus: oossatias sxpsnsss
w11eA iscluds salaries and labor. ~
pairs 10 maehinsry. asa . sufficisnl
surplus 70 psovids for extensions and
beetssmsota. - we'll - the rsplacina
Of parts Of the plant which BY wear Of
aceidsnt become detective. Taxes
must also b provided for. and this
may BE- coasidsred 70 includs any
suns Dajd. often . certain per cent
OF The sross Income. for the use oi
strests undsr The terms Of the fran
chiss. All thsss charges must bs
met bsfors any dividsnds can b paid
70 seockholdsrs. nor 10 . city exempt
from the sane nscsssiey. although
there 10 . teadsncy 70 overlook some
Of thsss poiats whsa . public utility
b owssd and opssatsa ~ the city.
For The first few ysars Of ths lifs
Of the plant not many repairs an
nscsssasy. The plaat. bsins new. d
working at . high rate Of sfficisscy
aad Tie sxpsnss 10 not - great % q
. later psrjod. II there b Q dsmsnd
for lower rates. The hoard Of alder
men that viii rsducs rates viii be ex.
trsnsly peDulas. tsaDesaslly. q least
Thers II always . demand for ars
iishts o. The stsssts, and these ars
srantsd more readily than whsn the
company b psivstsly owned. Pubiis
and scmi.public institutioas ask fos
free service. aud Il 10 usuaily diffleuii
tn refuse.
There IL . dsnand for sxtensions
into thisiy ssstisd poftioss. whsrs
the expense Of service u greater thaa
the rssurns. asd ehis h alto dlsfleull
70 refuse. By thls tins rspairs ~.
gin 70 become nseesaasy sa1 shs u.
come will not kssp % 70 ths VARIOUS
demands made upos ie. Prsssssiy
4 bscones aecessasy Tor The city "a
nahs . tax levy . mest The funnlas
szpsssss. aal uhorsiy tAs eity b css.
sying . burden fsoa whlch II nany
casee q 10 glaA % ~ feleased.
NJ city which hes nAss . SUCCESS
|oe,e0s o0ons ~ o1sooo1 % 11coog1n(
-. IL hoard u al1ssnsa dees 30
allov ~ dsnasd Ses Fs1uelios q
saeos - as1uiy effect thsls ju1gnsat.
% ~ bsgiasing . 6eelsoso = na1e
thas - fSse lisAts wijl - sivsa 4
~ -, Desssa o. eefDosseteo. ~
~ leeo3 Dayias laoo ~ seeeesle
1eDoseDeoe ~ aa0e saoes 4 vOujl
~ . Oglssos essDesaeisa. 4 sufsl.
eosae euo1 = ~ 49, - ~ IT, ~.
49, ~ oRllnnfy fo0o1eo. onoeAoP a