The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-05-23
SOME MORE STATISTICS
Mr.. Meffert Submits Another Batch
of Figures in the Electric
Current Matter

The Jacksonville municipal cleo
trio light plant cut the price from
all charges, earned a surplus of |
$3.50, 900 and has been a big factor |
in attracting new industries which |
has increased the population from
$4,000 in 1901. to $4,000 in 1913. |
Under a rate OF &c. per k. W. hour
for cooking purposes, the local gas
company objected; the city replied,
that since &c. electricity is equiv
alent to Acc. gas, the gas company's
| remedy was to sell gas at that price
and compete. Those that use gas
for cooking and lighting in Ocala
can draw a comparison which is the
| cheapest in Ocala.
The above should open the eyes
of our taxpayers. 1t shows that the
Jacksonville gas company objected
| to low rate for cooking purposes;
it no doubt objected to a lower rate
/
| gas are competitive interest, pc
culiar condition exists in Ocala The
chairman of our city council is man
| ager of the gas company, at a good
salary, and his duty is to make as
much money for his people as he
possibly can. The city of Ocala
does not pay her councilmen one
cent for duties they perform. Which
interest should our chairman serve
most? The interest where he gets
his living, or the city that pays him
nothing? If / owned the gas plant
in Ocala, it would be to my interest
to have the city purchase its current
at the switchboard at a fixed price
for term of years (no one could
furnish it for few years only) this
would enable me to figure the price
of current to the consumer. If &c.
per k. W. hour is equivalent to Acc.
gas, SC. per k. w. hour would mean
SLIGO for gas. If gas can be man
ufactured for $50 or less, at
profit, and the city is under contract
to purchase current at the switch
board, under such conditions | could
stay in the gas business and make it
pay. On the other hand, if the city
makes its own current, each council
would fix rates to consumers and re-
duce them from time to time, accord
ing to the cost of production, which
III 10
new and up-to-date machinery is in
; stalled, and put me out of the gas
) business on short order.
; What Our Electric Light Plant Has
The electric hight plant paid into
: the general fund, from Sept. 1,
. 1907 to June 1, 1911, $2O,5OO, be-
sides spending over $12, 500 for ex-
tensions of lines and improvements
to the plant. From June j, 1911, to
October /, 1913, the electric light
plant paid into the general fund
$22,S50; also spent $500 in ex-
tensions of lines and improvements
on plant. This was accomplished
after current had been reduced from
consumers in November, 1911. A
!: very good showing indeed. This
! makes me ask again, why ask for
bids to furnish current at the switch
. board?
I 1 am laboring to save the people
: of Ocala what rightfully belongs to
. them and should never be disposed
!. of. In my proposal to the city coun-
Gil l asked for a twenty-five-yea1
!. franchise, with the understanding
that would pay the city $4,000 fol
{ the privilege at the rate Of $4,000 q
!; year after the first five years, and
: left it optional for the city to pur-
!: chase, after the expiration of fifteeI
years. AS to nobody asking for {
franchise, neither has anyone init
mated that he will furnish current
| to the consumers. 1t is not hard fol
; a practical business man to under
of Ocala. The rate 1 agree to fur
nish current to the consumers for i!
the maximum charge during the life
!: of my contract. What / want tn.
people Of Ocala to know is this, tina
it is not necessary to raise the price
; of current to the consumers. Unde
:: proper management the plant vii
: still make money. J. NJ. Meffert.
! Oca1a Fla Nav %. 1914
!: DAVIDSON-SHAW