Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1921-04-21
The. Electric Light Plant.
New Local Laws May Not
Mean Economy.

The present Administra ton of towr
affairs have seemed to deem it wise tt
make change in the matter of collect
ing taxes and electric light accounts, and
to that end they have had the local laws
amended at the last session of the Leg.
islature, which practically goes back to
the old system of having bailiff to col.
lect the taxes and electric light bills.
They, doubtless, thought that this would
be beneficial and cheaper, otherwise they
would not have made the change. 1t re-
mains to be seen whether the new system
Tor rather the old system that is to be
reinstated) will not prove to be more ex-
pensive to the taxpayer and certainly
less satisfactory than that which has been
in vogue for the last few years.
The Bailiff. whomever he ma. be will,
doubtless. be like all other past bailiffs,
in regard to the collection of taxes and
electric light bills; people will very fire.
quently be unable to find him when they
desire to make their payments. He, in
turn, if he calls upon the people, will
doubtless many times find the person
away from hume, and thus will be unable
to make collection. He may have to take
a number of trips.
With the Secretary of the Board COL
lecting the taxes and light bills, every
one knew where he could be found. We
trust that there will be some information
Forthcoming at the primary meeting to
adyise the public generally as to what
the cost of the new system will be. In
our judgment, the cost will at least be
twice as much as that which has been
paid the present secretary. The Board
still has to have secretary, and that
secretary will have to be paid also. This
is, in our judgement, not economy, as We
understand it.
1t will then be observed that the voters
are to pass upon the issuance of Five
thousand dollars (S5 000) worth of bonds.
The law, a. drawn, states that it is "for
the improu m emit of the electric light and
power plant" This can mean a number
of different things. We do not under
stand that the plant proper is in need Of
improvement at the present time. Our
information is, that just very recently
the repairs have been made to the water
wheel and generator that have been out
of commission for a number of years,
thus giving additional service in the pow
er house that we have not had for quite
a long time.
We do believe, however, that the lines
throughout the town are in need of i'm
mediate repair, the renewal of poles, etc.
very generally, is needed. 1t is our opin-
ion. hover, that this improvement to the
electrical plant is the dream of some of
our electrical friends that there should
be an additional unit of steam, or gas, or
some other kind, installed to take care of
the business when there happens to be
low water.
"A Citizen" writing in last week s
Clarion, practically has answered the
question as to what this Five thousand
dollars additional will be used for. In
our opinion, this is simply adding an ad-
ditional burden to the taxpayers, which
will serve no good purpose and will save
no money; it will be ostensibly for the
purpose of relieving the town from buy
ing current at such times as there is low
water. The interest and depreciation on
this plant, when in need, or running, will
amount to more than any saving that
they could possibly make over the pur-
chase of whatever current is necessary
to give this service to the consumers.
Those who are responsible for giving
estimates of costs for installing of addi-
tional machinery and improvements, have
invariably estimated the cost to be about
one-half what the actual expenditure will
finally be, and we are safely assuming
that this Five thousand dollars, which is
intended for an auxiliary plant, will mean
that there will be about just one-half
enough to do what is supposed to be done.
y10 Ton For Corn