The Prescott daily news., 1917-02-06
COUNCIL ADOPTS
 NEW LIGHT RATE
Read Report of Dr. Manglesdorf with Reference to Septic Tank Meter Rates for Water Sup ply May be Reduced.

present: Mayor k. r. Hamby, Re- l corder c. H. Tompkins, and Aldermen Arnold, Buchanan, Davis, Blakely, Moore, Bedford. The regular monthly salaries and bills were read, approved l and warrants ordered issued A re- port from Dr. Wm. Manglesdorf with reference to the condition of the sewer system septic tank was read and or- dered printed, and is as follows:
 Little Rock, Jan. 12, 1917. To the City Council of Prescott,
 Prescott, Ark.
 Gentlemen:
 Attached you will please find result of my findings on examinations of your septic tank materials I find that the tank is destroying or killing 55 per cent of bacteria that enter. This is very good average. The de- composition or altering of organic and vegetable substances into gases so that they pass off into the air is 30 per cent, also good average.
 The mineral matter loss is less, be- ing 9 per cent. this is due to weight and inability to be changed into gases or volatile substances and re- mains to great extent in the cham bers, gradually filling up and requires cleaning out of chambers.
 would not consider your tank at the present time menace to the health of community through which the outlet flows, but any septic tank may at any time become dangerous, so it is best to try and keep them up to their best efficiency so I make fol- lowing suggestions: If possible run | 25 per cent more water into the sew ers this will aid decomposition and carry off more minerals in suspension. Clean out chamber every 6 months. Widen out the drainage ditch into creek, have small rocks or pebbles placed on bottom of ditch; this will makes the water very shallow and as it passes between rocks the air and sunshine will aid greatly in making outflow purer than when it left the tank. Lastly I would suggest that as your city grows that it might be ad- visable to install chlorinating plant
 Very truly yours,
 Wm. F. Manglesdorf.
 Mayor Randolph Hamby presented scale of rates for electric current for business houses, residences and motors which was considered by the council for more than three hours and finally adopted with respect to cur rent rates for lighting purposes as follows:
 First 50 k.w.h. at 10c per k.w.h.; next 90 k.w.h. at 9 1-2c per k.w.h.; next 100 k.w.h. at Sc per k.w.h.; next 100 k.w.h. at s 1-2c per k.w.h.; next 100 k.w.h. at Sc per k.w.h.; next 100 k.w.h. at 2 1-2c per k.w.h.; all over 800 k.wh at 7c per k.w.h.; minimum monthly charge $1.00; and the motor rates for one and one-half horse power motors and less was fixed at the above rates. The rates for larger h. p. mot ors will be determined at the next meeting of the council. The new rates are to become effective March 1st. The present current rate is ten cents per k.wh. These new rates are made not for the purpose of reducing the revenue of the plant, but to encourage the consumption of electricity which will eventually increase the revenues of the plant. The new rates are in line with rates charged for current throughout the state.
 The question of reduction in the meter rates for water was deferred | until the next meeting of the council. A committee composed of Mayor | Hamby. Aldermen Moore and Davis, Commissioner Thorburn and Superin- tendents Harrell & Hamby, was se- lected to draft new. rates for motors and water.
 The question of the purchase of a motor fire truck was brought up and it was decided to pass the matter until the next meeting and members of the council were instructed to try to work put some method by which funds could be raised to pay for truck.
 Serious objection was raised to per hitting as high as 75 horse power