Norwich bulletin., 1921-03-30

during the war, there Is no iFnn1ediatel prospect of reducing the rate in Norwich | for gas and electricity. although an equal revenue might be derived by possible change in rates, Is enc of the answers given by the gas and electric comnission- | CTS to the second set of questions asked | them recently by Mayor Herbert M. IA- reu. The commissioners continue by say- ing: It must be borne in mind electricity could be sold at lower rates, both for lighting and for power if the electric | department we're not Obliged to make | good the losses of the gas plant.
 With regard to any possible reduction l in the cost of operation of the gas and 1 electric plant. the commissioners state l that there has just been reduction fin l the cost of gas oil and that the indisa- l tions are that they will De able to con- tract for steam coal during the coming l year at lower rate than was contracted for this year. They state that there is yet no indication of q reduction in the price of labor. In this connection the commissioner state that the fees to the consulting engineer, H. E. Mole will cease after next month and that there will be saving in the salary of the gas engineer, J. H. Fullerton. who has re- gently resigned.
 AS to one question asked by the mayor,
  swer. The question was: Exclusive of the current purchased at one cent XVII what does it cost the department XVII, including all items of every sort, to de- liver XVIII at the customers meter? The commissioners say: Tt is not pos sible for us to answer this question: but make no further explanation. The full text of the commissioner an-l swers to the second set of questions asked them by Mayor Lereu is as fol. l lows:
 City of Norwich
 Gas and Electrical Department ofiee, 37 Shetaeket Street. | Norwich, Conn, March z5, 1921. Honorable Herbert M Lerou, Mayor, City of Norwich, Norwich, Connecticut Dear Sir: am pleased to comply with l your request of the 1st instant for ad- ditional information concerning the Gas k Electrical Department, the same Is isubmitted herewith.
 Question 1. When was the fiscal year of the department changed!
 Answer. We have made a search through the records at the fcity hall, the filled of the Norwich Bulletin and the records of this department. The foiio~A ing appear to De a history .Sf this mat April 30, 1915. By special -iesislatioh. in order. to give the information asked for in Vthe following act | Special Laws of Connecticut, 1915.
 (House Bill No. 55s). An act aPending the charter of the City of Norwich. | Be it enacted by the senate and house
 Of representatives in general assembly leonvened:
 | s'..s,......I.ss.st5 .st5sGsssss.sssSs..s | .....s....s..i..,:. | Section 4. The board of gas ana elee. ltrical commissioners of the City of Nor. Wich,i in addition to the reports and ae. counting which it is already required tc i make, shall. not later than the twentieth
 day of May in every year, render to tht leity clerk or to the mayor for the use oi
 ths court Of common council thS follow. ing Written Or printed statements: First cash receipts and disbursements fer tAt iyear ending May fifteenth, and balaiiet Lon hand On said day, exclusive of sdfhI I already invested by the cityf or set asidj I tp De invested for the gas ana sfeetfica
 Sinking fund and the gas ana electfieA reserve fund; second, income and expehs, and bfofit of operation for the year end , ing April thiftieth; third, the amount. o II depreeia ton charged for the year eIidinI April thfrdeth, such depreciation to D,
 computed only on the balance of tEe eitg ! equity in it's plants and property belong l ing to said gas and eleetfieal depart 7 nent; accounts payable and accounts re i csivabig on said April thirtieth. Il The preliminary steps which lead up {, } i this act were as folIows: tI At a meeting Of the board of gas aEt i eleetFicai coh4nissioiiers held ofl Decem5e < 23, 1914 in order to comply with the .e l quest of the court of cofnm6n council $ was votea
 To take steps to have the fnaneia x year of the city and electrical depaftnaen f i end the same as the other department ,, %bf the city, viz, May 18th.
 .N At a meeting of the court of conanioi : council held on January 1915, the fol
 lowing communication was pfesentel B.
 Mayor T. c. Murphy:
 | About ten days ago had ifseftesi !, !. The Bulletin bill to be presented to th state legislature as an amendment to eii ' city charter in regard to the differehS 6e $ partfnehts of the city having their 'fis caf' year end on the 18th, of May T The following notice was inserted i the Norwich Morning Bulletin on BeeeFn n lbef IS, 1911.
 2 Notice is hereby given that afpstitio q will De presented to the next general al II sefab1y of the state of Connecticut whie ' cohvenes in January 1915; for an amend [. ifient Of, or alteration in the charter q . the city of Norwich to provide that tn z different departments of the city skx E observe a uniform system of disbafsIh 3. ana accounting fof, moneys ana to ffs g vide for and establish the same fiscal yea ?. for all said departments and for sal $ city.
 Question ?. Upon what items and whs n aggregates has the commission compute 'f the depreciation since May 1915? VI Answer For the year ending April 5 n nt1s1S, 5 per cent. on se57, ,5s6. .oB, Sthe bot
 Value eh the plant as of May 1, 1911
 which equals sSz,s7s.52, plus $500 add al tienal depreciation ef the coal gas r, V torts making total lepfeciation fer q < tyear of s33,47s52,
 lsi For the year ending April 50. 1917. aI per cent on S650. .o25.55, the book vaIt a of the plant as Of May l. 1916, whis " equals $sg,561.2s.
 ,st For the year ending Apfll s6, 1918, - per cent on $55e, ,se5, the present phys 4 real value as placed By MT T. B.. Mo d in his report to Mayor Allyn L. IsfoW' ia dated April IT. 1917. which equals +S7 \. s44.52. This s55e,Ss5 WAS f1a4e up {; !, fofiews. . Present physical saIds less
 overhead ...... ssSS,4S |
 IDess; ;, Real estate .4sz,S7a.oo
 v Supplies Afd stores l,Sss.se
 --- -- s7,s5t,t s556, ,Iss.l F6r fba zsar sn5,ns k,-,, sif 4t5S