The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1919-12-12
500 a Month
Thrown Away

| An age of conservation is just now
dawning. This is an age in the worlds
history when profigacy Of every de-
scription is beginning to be frowned
upon as it never was before in years
that have passed. The period for con-
servation is here--and here to stay
for some time, AT least. With snch a
period of conservation at hand, it is
embarrassing almost humiliating--
when one considers the waste that is
made necessary to keep up the light
and water plant of this city.
When that plant was installed, now
something near twenty years ago,
there may have been some tangible ex-
cuse for failure to properly equip
that plant in order that it's upkeep
should be held down to the minimum.
But in these days there could be no
plausible excuse for such grave ov-
ersight. While it was doubtless gen.
orally considered as an excellently
managed piece of high finance at the
time the project was brought to COM
pletion, such plan would now fall of
its own weight until more perfect
plans had been arranged for it's up
keep and operation.
AS stated in the heading of this ar
ticle, there is now being absolutely
wasted by the city practically $100
every month of the taxpayers money
for the hauling of coal to keep the
municipal power plant in fuel. For
this snug sum, which soon runs into
thousands, the taxpayers of this city
fail to receive the least benefit what
soever. Therefore such amount is alb
solutely wasted, so far as the tax
payers are concerned.
For approximately twenty years
that this plant has been in operation,
then, there has been dissipated in this
manner $4,000 that could have been
saved for the city had proper arrange
mcnts been made when the plant was
installed for the conserving of ex-
pense. The remedy at that time
would perhaps have been as easy to
apply as it appears to be at this time,
though doubtless little or no attention
was given it at that time.
But now, as the spirit of conserva-
tion is becoming more and more mani
fest, it is becoming palmer each day,
to constantly increasing number of
citizens, that this grave oversight of
nearly twenty years ago, should be
corrected--that the longer it is per-
mitted to continue in the old way, the
heavier will be the burden on the peo-
pie of this city.
The way to correct and further
avoid this heavy and useless expense
is so self-evident as to make further
explanation of this discrepancp, seem
altogether useless.I B,4, for fear tiiAt
some may not yet see the way to cut
out this useless---senseless- waste,
The Times will say that the remedy
lies in building a switch from the
electric line to the power plant, So
that coal cars can be switched di-
rectly to the power plant.
Citizens of Pennington, what do
you think Of the idea? 1t is for you
to decide, and it is you who must pay
the bills for running the power plant.
Do you care to save $100 month, as
well as considerable wastage from
loading coal, hauling half a mile or
more, and unloading same, to say
nothing of the wear and tear on the
streets resulting from such service.
1t is up to the citizens of Farming
ton to make their wants known in this
matter. The Times would be pleased
to hear from any who may have views
to express in this matter.