Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-02-17
CITY TO OPERATE
OWN LIGHT PLANT
Commissioners Agree on Plan
to Manufacture and Sup
ply Power.
OUTSIDE CAPITAL AVAILABLE
In Five Years Utility Would
Pay for Self; to Close
Deal Next Tuesday.

A municipal electric light and
power plant 10 be owned eventually
by the city of Tulsa and operated for
he exclusive use OF the city water
)lant. city hall and police and fire
itations as well as Illuminating the
streets. parks and all other public
property soon may be provided for
rusa as a result Of tentative arrange
ncnts completed late yesterday after
1oon between the board Of city COM
missioncrs and "a representative of the
United Engineering company Of Chi
ago.
II is proposed to construct the plant
IN conjunction with the municipal
watcrworls. Outside capital will de-
tray the expense Of construction and
the city will be provided light and
power at rate materially below the
present scale, according TO the prom-
iseS OF the promoters Aside from
saving the city considerable revenue
IN reduced rates, the funds contribut-
cd each month hy the city at the end
of the fifth year will have applied as
full payment for the utility which
thcn will be transferred TO the city.
Up Next Tuesday.
So seriously is the novel plan CON
sldcrcd by the city officials that il
virtually was agreed yesterday after
noon that the deal shall be closed
with the Chicago company AT the reg
ulnr meeting of the board of commits
sioners Tuesday morning. The only
obligation the city assumes Is the
timc-worn one Of paying the bill be
fore the 10th to save the penalty"
according To provisions Of the tenta-
tive contract.
Plan Not New.
The proposition to Drovldc the
auxiliary light and power plant was
submitted by ]. \. Burris. represent
Ing the Chicago engineering firm. rhe
Representative Yesterday obtained for
his firm he contract for the pro-
posed new municipal incinorator and
garbag" reduction plant. Scores Of
such electric utilities are operated by
the United Engineering company II
various cities ,hruout the country.
Eurrls informed the commissioners.
Statistics provided by other cities
disclosed vast savings In the ex-
pcnse Of Illuminating streets and pub
lie buildings. according to members
Of the board of commissioners con
ferring with Burris. In every case
whore the proposition had ncen
adopted, the respective cltleS had IN
hcrited the plant free gratis at the
end OF the fifth year after having
enjoyed unprecedented minimum
charges for service.
Aid WaicrworlSs.
The plant would be installed pri
marily to provide power Cor the Great
mechanical equipment now Installed
AT the city water plant and the ad d.
ditional momentum needed when the
new liberation plant and expanded
departments are completed. Suffic,-
,nt extra Juice" then would he de-
Nclopcd to light the streets to illumi-
nate city hall Convention hall, all
fire stations, the police Headquarters
and any other municipal departments
In any portion of the city. The
schoolhousc may also he equipped
with Juice. at n great saving.
Members oc the commission attend
ing the conference with the engin-
cerinr representative Yesterday are
unanimous In favoring the idea IN
all probability a contract will be
awarded the firm next Tuesday and
the city b" carly summer viii utilize
"near-munlcipal' light and power
from plant q will own Unincumhcre1
In the year 1922. II was announced
at the city hall last night.