Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1916-02-15
ANNAPOLIS, MD, TUESDAY. FEBRUARY 15 1916

ward the purchase of the new aerial
truck. recently acquired by the Water
Witch Hook and Ladder Company
Managers Strauss Bros, of The
Fashion" presented a petition asking
that they be allowed TO maintain a
show case on Maryland avenue in
front of their place of business. The
petition was referred TO the Street
Committee, with power TO act.
A movment was given impetus al
this meeting looking to the municipal
ownership of the gas and electric light
plant and a resolution offered by the
Mayor as follows:
The following resolution was passed
unanimously:
Whereas, the owner ship of public util-
tiles by municipalities and their man
agement in the interest of the whole
community has been q marked feature
of civic and economic advance in town
and city life; and,
Whereas, under sound and busi-
ness-like administration of water.
lighting and power plants in one pub
lie utilities department controlled and
greater economy and more reasonable
rates are always to be had; and
Whereas, the citizens and taxpayers
of Annapolis have had concrete eX
ample of the desirability and advant-
ages if public ownership in the case of
the Annapolis Water Company, which
has conducted the plant for about
four years at less expense than here
tofore, and with increased incom;
starting with a treasury almost empty
II has spent S4.S00 for the cleaning OF
mains, is now spending approximately
SO 500 more in increasing the holding
capacity of the reservoirs, made nee
essary by the shortage from year TO
year in the dry season, which inn
provement is made by the advice of
the engineers of the State Health De-
partment. and when completed will
still have left a fund sufficient to con
struct a filtration plant at the works
which will be the finished improve
ment that will place the water supply
Of Annapolis without a superior. The
water works were acquired by the city
without the expenditure of one dollar;
and, without raising the charges for
kater service, the income from the
plant is taking care of its operating
expenses and interest and sinking
fund charges, and will give the city its
water works by the time of the ma
turity of the bonds at no cost what
ever to it's public treasury; and,
Whereas. the citizens of Annapolis
are now paying 10 cents per X. W. for
electricity lighting and the actual cost
of manufacturing it would not exceed 2
cents per k. W., and are paying S1.25
to 81 so thousand cubic feet for gas
when to manufacture it would not cost
over so cents a thousand cubic feet;
and.
Whereas, all three public utilities
water, electricity and gas-cOuld be
owned by the city and the plants eco
nomically operated in a single depart
ment to the advantage and betterment
of these services. And gas and cleo
tricity plants could be readily estab-
lishcd in the same way by bond issue
as. the water plant was acquired, and
the city tax rate not appreciably in
creased, if at all
Resolved, That it would be to the
interest and welfare of the city to es-
tablish its own gas and electric plant
and that a commission of three, con
sisting of Mayor James #. Strange
City Counsellor George E. Rullman
aud third member, a citizen and tax
payer of Annapolis, to be named by
the Mayor, is hereby appointed and
authorized to prepare a bill for intro
duction into the Legislature at this
session enabling the city in the same
effective and economical manner by
a bond issue to so acquire or establish
q municipal gas and electric plant and
providing for a municipal department
of pubic utilities in which shall be
combined the economical and efficient
management of the water, electricity
and gas plants
Alderman John j. Levy offered the
following resolution:
Whereas. it has been fully demon
suated in the past that it is practica-
BILE to furnish gas of normal aver
age heating value of at least six hun
dred and fifty (650) British thermal
units, and of a normal illuminating
power of at least twenty and eight
tenths (20S) candles. with reasonable
profit to those engaged in the manu-
facture and sale thereof
And. Whereas, the preponderance
of the evidence at a hearing before
! the City Council on the 18th of Decem.
ber, 1915, that for the city generally, a
I heating standard far below an average
of six hundred and fifty (650) British
thermal units. and an illuminating
standard far below the average oi
twenty and eight-tenths (20.S) candles
was being supplied by the Annapolis
Public Utilities Company to the gas
consumers of the City of Annapolis;
And, whereas, it seems relief can
not be obtained by an appeal to the
said Annapolis Public Utilitis Com.
pany for a correction of the evils
complained of:
BE 1t resolved, therefore. by the
I Mayor, Counsellor and Aldermen oi
/ the City of Annapolis that the Public
I Service Commission be, and they are
hereby requested to intervene in the
/ matter on behalf of the gas consumers
1 Of said city by compelling the Annap-
/ oils Public Utilities Company. engag.