Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-07-26
SAVANNAH BODY
CONSIDERS CD PLAN
FROM AMER|CU5

The city Of Savannah is now consid-
e1ing securing the electric light plant
IN that city under a plan which now
exists in The city of Americus. The
unique manner in which the lighting
plant OF Americus now operates is the
subject of mention in the article which
carries the story concerning Savannah
The Savannah Morning News yester-
Gay, had the following to say:
Members of council and city Off.
cials have received copies of an opiu-
ION recently rendered by Railroad
Commissioner Hillyer. who holds that
city may, under the police power,
acquire public utility such as
gas or electric light plant, and pay
for it in yearly installments.
His opinion was given in the mat
ter of the revision of electric and cas-
rates at Americus. City officials who
are interested in the movement to
establish municipal lighting plant
in Savannah believe that the opinion
would apply here and they take it to
mean that it is not necessary to is,
sue bonds to acquire a plant.
The suggestion that the city estab,
iish a lighting plant has not aroused
any enthusiasm in council so far. The
matter was referred to a committee
to investigate and report back. AL
derman Daniel is the father Of the
movement, having introduced the
resolution providing for an investiga-
tion of the proposition.
"A public utility of the kind here
i'll question: gas and electric plant
may, under the police power; be ac-
quired and owned by the city; that is
to say acquired and owned by the
public and for the public benefit, just
like school house, a city hall, a
sewer, or a fire engine house, or
tunnel under or a bridge over street.
and the like Commissioner Hillyer
says in his opinion
There is no way for the city to pay
for these things, except by taxation.
The rate charged for gas or elec-
tricity is in such case fixed by law ani
depends for its validity on legal ar-
ti.ority, just like any other tax.
1T is not at all necessary in such
cases that the entire purchase money
shall always be paid and tax levied
to pay it-all of tin one year; bur
sdch purchase where a bond issue is
not desirable is often spread out over
d series Of years. Most of the en-
gines now pumping water in the city
Of Atlanta were bought on the in
stallment plan, the last one costing
two hundred thousand dollars. The
city each year levied a tax for the
yearly installment.
The city of Philadelphia acquired
fifty million dollars worth of gas
property under franchise by the
terms OF which the title was to and
did vest in the city when the charter
expired. The city of New York viii.
as I understand it, acquire title to.
one hundred million dollars worth Of
municipal tunnels when the charter
of the company that constructed
them expires. This very capitol
huilding of our state was built on a
siX-year contract; the state levied an
annual tax to pay the annual INSTALL
nents on the cost, and at the end OF
six years the capitol was raid for ana
net dollar of debt was left hanging
over it. Properly guarded, the method
is legal and wise"
In this connection it was mentioned
at the city hall yesterday that move
ment might be started to have the city
acquire the plant of the Savannah
Lighting Company.