The Marshall republican., 1914-01-16

1880
report"
Ind !
The municipal water and light
plants we're sold In 1908 to the
Brownstone Water 4 Light Co., in
order to get the plants out of politics.
now call your attention to a few
cases from my own state, your neigh
bor on the west.
Council Grove, Kans.-
The $1,000 municipal electric plant
vas sold for $3.50. The plant had to
be rebuilt. 1t lost money steadily
under municipal management and de-
preciate1 almost to nothing.
Winfield. Kans.-
The report of the municipal cleo
trio plant for 1911 shows total re-
ccipts loi current amounting to S2b,-
57S.72 and expenses amounting to
S27.5TL.26. without any allowance
for interest. depreciation or sinking
FUND. A book charge Of ~S6,730.00 II
made for depreciation but no money
IL provided to trke care OF the charge.
Kalamazoo. Mich
In 1879 the citizens had to vote
Si25.OOO to rebuild the municipal
lighting plant. which was worn out.
No depreciation fund was available.
have a few citations from some
OF your nclghboring cities In Missouri
which may be OF more than passing
interest TO you.
brunswick. Mo-
Debt was the only thing that this
city 20 out OF municipal ownership Of
water and lights. After ten years
operation the plant was sold for one
third Ia cost. The mayor Is quoted
as saying you could not give Bruins
wick such a plant under condition
that they run the business"
Marcel,nc. Mo-
This town had one Of the first
municipal electric plants. but II did
not pay. The city operated II ut a
lltss until II burned. Sentiment was
F, 20 strong against municipal owner
ship that the plant was not rebuilt.
. vcraailes. Mo-
The people voted In 1906 10y n maj
p Gritty OF 2tS to - to shut down the
| generating station or the municipal
electric plant and lay current from
tie local company. o. the company's
b price vas lower than 'he cost to the
. city In using it's " liant.
Philadelphia, Pa
Probably the mos, colossal failur,
4 OF municipal ownership IN America 4,
@ that OF the philadelphia Gas Works
d The plant was leased TO the Unite,
y Gas I'm "1vcment Company In 1908
lrior - the lease. the city lost abou
SiOO.OU0 n ye"". The city now Sc
II cures m ,rr"ll Income OF over 81,
q 0OO.O o. iss share OF the plants I'm
Com' und'r ., O. lease. For years IN,
h muni !p'l - works was the mos
lc,rruptIIs Influence In philadelphia
roi -.
rgr M. wash
% This city has a municipal dlstribut
i IN syricm over which It sells curren
nude Ly a private company, origin
ally. tho city operated its oyn gen
lo ~" ING station. but this proved to,
90 '%u.iye, so the generating plan
"a was shut down and the current Ia
Il since been purchased. The condition
OF this city lighting system Is SO IN
n satisfactory that II IL INVESTIGATED
frequently. but little good comes froI
q these Investigations by friendly cit
officials aud aldermen.
20 La Crosse, Wis
ID In 1911 the citizens had to appeH
IS TO the state railroad commission I
es force their own officials to brlng IN
H. water plant to a state OF efficiency
Il The plant was so run down that II re
puired $4,000 to put It into shape
as The water was sc poor that II coul
N not be used at all for domestic pun
I'd poses. Several disastrous fires hay
n been due to poor pressure,
Touching on the question OF depr,
%oiation and obsol1scence, the remark
h, OF Commissioner Roemeer, OF tn
he Wisconsin Commission, are partieuI
arly significant.
to mo one can foresee n quarter OF
century the changes in the arts en-
braoed in public utility service. III
development and necessities OF tn
n communities served, or the requir,
IS. ments OF the utilities to perform thei
er functions under conditions While
II. must necessarily change in the pre-
cd sress OF time, Less than two decad,
ce ago | saw In my home city an electrt
he power plant Just completed whic