The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1915-06-11


! ferent kind of town. 1t was town
/ that today if a man came into Fred
| erick and the city was in the same
| condition that instead of saying COM
| plimentary things about it he would
| simply think, if he did not say it, that
it was a town without progress and
| improvement.
| Now, what is the condition of the
debt today compared to twenty-seven
| years ago? The bounded debt today
is, less the amount of bonds in the
sinking funds, $5S,5000O, with certi-
| fcates 10 be provided for in the next
| levy of SIS, $1,000, Leaving the net
| bonded debt of Frederick today with
twenty seven years ago increased
about s15,S00.00. II addition to that
the city owes a floating dett for mon
ev borrowed of $50, 10000 which is
| their limit TO borrow money. Now
submit that that, with our improved
condition, is q splendid showing.
| What we want now is to not be dis
! heartened but TO keep the town going
/ in the line of progress as it has been
| going. In my judgment, we are near
ly up the hill, but to reach the top
Of the summit and survey our town
| in fine condition we need a bond is
sue of about $4,000. $4,000 ofthis
| to take care of the reservoir and pipe
line. $4,000 to pay off its floating
debt, $4,000 to enable the city to car
~ its own tax bills from time to time
and SIS 900 for application to our ell
| ectric lighting system.
| L. fs n DTnrpHf
its water shed as far as possible, and
to build the reservoir and pipe line
as proposed by the engineer who has
been employed, who, l think, is
most competent man. Frederick
needs a bountiful water supply. The
present officials, with their efficient
Collector, Mr.. Biser, have increased
the income from the water in the last
five years I understand from about
| sic. 500 to $4,000. With these i'm
provements made l feel that they can
! still increase the revenues from this
source.
Now as to the city's ELECTRIC light
| plant. There has been. much dis
cussion on that subject. number
OF people l believe advise the Board
OF Aldermen guilty about that mat
ter who do not care u come out and
take the responsibility openly on TINS
subject. l would suggest, by all means,
that we at once take up the question Il
improving Immediately, if We can raise
| the money, the electric light plant
| upon such a line as will furnish cur
| rent to light the city completely ana
satisfactorily in all sections at the
earliest date possible; that we nave
tbis plant running and the actual
| cost known per kiloWatt OF an I'M
proved plant that we then add TO II
| such units as will enable us to 1urn-
| ish to the people of the city current
| for incandescent lighting and power
| unless a rate is made in the city Tor
| that purpose that is thoroughly satls-
factory. and also a. satisfactory rate
on gas. | want to add that in con-
| nection with this transaction, atter
having given it thought, study ana IN
yestigation. | believe that it is much
more important transaction than the
| refuuding of the $512 10000 OF Donds
from ) per cent to per cent. II
we're 10 tell you how much more I'M
portant l think it is than that trans
action when everything is taken INTO
consideration, l am sure, at the time
MANY persons in this city who are un-
| familiar with the question would
think it an exaggeration, but allow
me TO call your attention to the TACT
that this town to be progressive and
un-to-date ought to have cheap light
and chaaD current and plenty of wa
ter.
We recall that when the question
OF street improvement was up l per-
sonally invited the Mayor and Board
| Of Aldermen, with number OF cit
liens. TO take a trip with me, as my
| guests, for the purpose of getting de-
finite information on street paving,
| and ii you will permit he | extend
| the same invitation to be my guests
Board OF Aldermen to be my guests
10 visit certain points to get DEFINITE
| and accurate information upon street
lighting and power current and gas
and after getting it have them pres
ent it publicly to the people for their
| consideration. You will recall some
| time 90 the Mayor had an investga-
| ton made, for which he is % be COM
mended, of the electric light plant in
Frederick. l beg to ask the people
Of Frederick if this report is correst
why We are not awake to the intel
ests Of the town mora fully than we are
and if incorrect there ought to be re-
sponsible people who know the ques-
ton Of street lighting to contradict
il and then the question of proof
be ascertained through the process
l have suggested above. And l beg to
ask if We can do what has been said
with our present plant what can do
| with an improved plant?
1 talked with one of the gentlemen
who made the report referred to. He
stated that by an expenditure of $45,
900 on an electric light plant and
| $4,000 on a building in Frederick
! current could be furnished for clio
of a cent per kilowatt hour covering
al overhead costs, interest charges
| ON the investment depreciation and