The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1920-04-08

TO THE PEOPLE
OF LANCASTER KY

We submitted the following sffi-
davit TO the City Council at their
regular April meeting and asked that
they appoint . committee to make a
full and complete investigation Of
our books and records, and to report
the result q their investigation and
their recommend tions 20 the City
Council at itf next meeting:
AFFIDAVIT.
Lancaster. Kentucky. April 3. 1920.
| TO THE HONORABLE MAYOR and
CITY COUNCIL or THE CITY
OF LANCASTER KENTUCKY.
The aiTiant, II. V. Basin, states
that he 10 one Of the firm % Bastin
Brothers who own and operate the
Lancaster Electric Light Plant under
the franchise that the city Of Lancas-
ter sold September 4, 1916, and they
hereby make application for an in
crease in rates on account Of the fol
lowing facts: The affiant states that
the total cost OF coal at the plant
from February /. 1919, to February
!. 1920. including freight and hauling
was 50 309. SO; that the cost Of oil,
packing and supplies during said per
i0d was Sio3O.Oi; and for labor dur
ing said period S5226 90. and for in
cidental expenses, including taxes,
water, boiler insurance. telephone SER
vice and printing, stamps, etc.
s552.t0. making a total Of s16.il7.-
10.
Add 20 this maintenance Ieprecia-
ton and obsolescence at ten per cent
on cost price Of s36.3i3.90, makes
Sl63i.39. and add six per cent on
the investment amounting TO $2l7s.-
SO. makes total cost for operating
the plant from February ], 1919. to
February /. 1920, Of S2l.927.95.
That during the same period the rev.
cnue from the operation thereof
amounted 10 Sl6.37l.3G. making an
operating loss Of s5556.j4. An,ant
files herewith and sttaches hereto
copy showing the items IN said ESTE
mate in detail being an itemizej
statement thereof The affiant also
files herewith as part hereto an OF
mate Of expenses II the year begin
ming April ! 1920. TO April I. 1921,
showing the total cost Of coal for the
plant u Si2.2il.i2; oil packing ano
supplies estimated az Sl030.0l;
labor $5226 90; inciientals Sj52.l0
maintenance and depreciation ard OBJ
solcscence S3631.39; six per cent ON
investment S2l7s.S3; making a total
estimated cost Of operation S24S5e-
%. Estimated revenue Si6.31i.3
making an estimated loss Of S8.sSs.-
90. lie hlcs a copy Of said estimate
and makes a part hereof ant attasags
same hereto. The affiant further
states that the total cost 81 the same
amount Of coal az the plap. at the
time Of sale q Franchise was S}.1t2.-
3j. ma king Toss in coal FOR the last
year S.j972I. and FOR the estimated
year would be s752S.T7 on coal
alone. The difference in the FIRST
year and now would be considerable.
bot the ahiant has not the figures 10
t.l ,.e eAae, amount as 90 oil, peck
Ig ai supplies The difference .n
labor between the first year ami The
ast year would be S2G500O, and
ether items would Dc practically tas
same. The aifiant states that by rep
f1n 81 the f5recoing facts that ths
plant is now being operated at greag
loss. which aas caused and occa-
stoned by the Increase and high prices
Of material and coal and laNut.
which could nee be forcsetn az ihc
time said franchise was purchased,
end 8, vou'l be- Impossible FOR -Ba !.
rim Brothers or q receiver 60 opsra.e
a,,i plant al the preseu. prices on. of
de income derived from tie services
rendered ard same would be opgrat-
90 at a great end Increasing lc.a.
The adiant now asks the City Coua-
cil 90 Increase the rates for light SER
s.cc and power service in the City q
au extent cquai TO the difference in
the cos, q coal material labor and
o.hcr eouIru ant. from 1910 TO 1920
Tie sfanl further states that Is
fJthsr ecrs Iteration Tor said Increase
dat the demand for electric sery.c,
las incrcas beyond he contenpIa-
uan Of tte parties az the time the
fanch.se Wa sold, and in order that
.he service in tie City may grow aud
svelop az che needs Of the City rr'
demand e Is necessary 20 enlarge the
ESQ plant by erecting new boiler
ana electric apparatus at an rstimat-
go expense Of about 100000 which
addition could have been made AZ
the time the franchise was entered
into al City per cent Of that sun,
and this extra work Is necessary in
order to make a complete and effie.