The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1918-09-20

Just rights, it should not be permit
ted to continue the monopoly of the
business and to that end the City
should go into the electric light and
power business on its own account.
With this in view / have had our
engineer prepare an estimate show
ing what such a plant would cost at
present prices and what it weuld cost
to operate. have reason to believe
that all of his estimates are conser-
vative and that in actual experience
the results would be better than the
estimate. am able, therefore, to
say that the City can build, own and
operate such a plant with 1000
meters and sell electricity for light
ing at an average rate of 6A cents
per XVIII and at a considerably less
rate for power, pay for the street
lighting at least 40 per cent less than
the Company has last proposed, pay
interest on the investment, pay off
$4,000 of the bonds each year, and
set aside SO 900 each year as fund
for depreciation, of which fund very
small sum would have to be expended
the first ten years because the plant
would be entirely new, so that at
the end of twelve years we would
have our plant entirely paid for. And
this does not take into account the
sure increase of business to follow
reasonable rates. The Paris Gas &
Electric Company reported to the
State Auditor that its earnings for
the year ended June 80, 1917, were
$70,569 gross. In the expenses of
operation an experienced and COM
petent manager is to be paid $4,000
"a year and all other expenses are
equally estimated. 1t would be my
plan to put the management of the
plant in the hands of a self-perpetu-
ating board of electric light commits
sioners consisting of three or more
public spirited citizens to be selected
by the people, which board would
fill any vacancies caused by death or
resignation. This plan is in success
full operation by the City of Louisville
in its waterworks and would insure
undoubted success in Paris.
/ have several copies of the de-
tailed estimate of the cost of said
plant and will be glad to have any
citizen to read it. And I also invite
an expression of the public on this
matter. For years we have paid more
than the reasonable worth of the SER
vice. 1t is time we got relief, if not
from the Company, which seems I'M
likely then we should help ourselves
as suggested. The Mayor and the
Board of Council represent the
people, who in the final analysis are
the City, and we want to do always
our best for the people.
1t 1t is the consensus of opinion
that we ought to put in our own
plant, let US not waste any time in
deciding. l am ready to submit the
matter to the Council at the meeting
of September 26.
Natural Gas Service.
The franchise of the Company
stipulates that it shall furnish gas at
standard pressure" This means a
minimum of ounces to the square
inch at prices fixed by the franchise,
and this in turn means that unless
the Company furnishes that pressure
at all times it may not charge or de-
mand the price fixed by the fran
chise. l intend to recommend to the
Board of Council to purchase and
install in the City Hall a graphic re-
cording gas gage which will show the
pressure furnished at all hours of
the day and night continuously. If
in any month the pressures are less
than a ounces, the rate of charge
must be correspondence reduced.
We will have the computations made
and published monthly for the in
formation of the gas consumers, and
such action by them as the facts war
rant.
Respectfully,
E. B. JANUARY,
Mayor.