The Washington herald., 1914-04-23

have been largely forgotten. Under
municipal ownership the prices wer.
high. the service was poor, extensions
were most inadequate to meet the
| needs of the public, and in the last
year of operation the deficit approxi-
mated 100000. The whole thing be-
came SO noxious that after years of
effort the people of the city were able
to break the ring and to substitute
private for public operation OF this
property The result has boen service
OF the highest attainable standards. a
degree OF adequacy and Of extension
which has met the fullest demands of
the public, series Of reductions In
price. and. instead of an annual deficit
of 100000. an annual income for the
relief of taxes in general which for the
year 1919 amounted to si.ss9.ss6.
'"fhe City of Chicago conducts a mu-
nicipal plant for the illumination of
her highways. That Chicago's plant
subjected the city to loss of nearly
s225.0o0 in 1911, my last year OF avail
able information. Is the least impor-
tant of the indictments to be found
against the system.
Our MtnicipaI Enterprises.
"our own city few years ago un-
dertook the construction of a munich
pal lighting plant for one of the
bridges and some adjacent city proper
ty. As result OF q comparative
study, originated by the officials OF the
city. 1t was found the service of the
private corporation was more satlsfac
tory and cheaper. and after a loss Of
s10s.933, as reported by the experts,
the municipal project was abandoned
in favor of a private corporation.
For a long time the municipal fer
ries of New York City were held up
to the public view as splendid ex-
amples of efficiency and economy In
municipal ownership. An investigation
however, showed that these ferries, in
stead OF operating at large profit were
conducted at an annual loss Of about
s1,Oo0,0OO. Now the investment Is
threatened with large depreciation and
a greatly increased deficit through the
construction of a subway across the
Narrows to Staten Island. 7
notwithstanding the long list OF mu-
nicipal ownership operations abandoned
or creating annual deficits 1t has seemed
that these are the least important Of the
Disadvantages to which the municipality
is subjected in undertakings of this kind.
As bearing upon this point take the mu-
nicipal lighting plant Of South Norwalk.
II II probably the best example Of munic-
ipal ownership in existence. Neverthe-
tcsss. TcidGNc SOsNsr
profits or deficits, in the attendant cir
cumstances the operation Of this plant
has undoubtedly been on economic and
civic error.
For many years this city has been in
natural line for large industrial devel
opment and growth in population. These
call for a kind Of expenditure In public
for which capital OF a
private nature cannot be secured. Yet
a large part Of the financial resources
of the city have been tied up in this
electrical undertaking; to this has been
added the unselfish activities Of some Of
her most prominent citizens. Capital In
money and human effort have been
locked up in an undertaking which could
have been at least equally well pro-
vided for and conducted by private
agencies and consequently a more gen
eral civic development has been re-
tarded.
Contention has beei made that the |
plant gave cheaper service |
than had the supply been from q pri- |
vate corporation. Yet the public light |
Ing under municipal ownership was ac-
complished ct a per capita cost Of 70
cents. while the cost in q neighbortng |
city was 30 cents per capita
Had the same efforts been expended !
In advertising the city's natural advan- |
tages, in promoting local industries and ,
commerce. and in providing adequate |
terminals and dockage, any advantage
claimed from the operation Of this plant |
would be far exceeded"