The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1922-10-24
THECITY CAN
NAME A PRICE
Engineering Experts Say Pub
lie Utilities Are Up
Against 1t

1t is the opinion Of expert
cnccd engineers that Eliza
beth City is in a position to
buy the existing public utlll-
ties at its own price, should
the city decide to purchase
these properties as nucleus
for its own electric light, wat
er and sewerage projects. The
engineers say that the public
utilities companies are backed
against the wall and the city
can name its own price.
Six engineers were before the
Board of Aldermen in special session
Friday night with proposals for ham
ding the city'S public utilities job.
These engineers were Gilbert c.
White. of the Gilbert c. White Co.,
Durham, y. c.; Harry W. Loving and
c. +. Wagner, of the J. Il. McCrary
Engineering Co., Atlanta. Ga: Fred
crick i. Barnes. representing Mich
olaS s. Hill, Jr., New York City;
Wm. e. Olsen, Kinston, \. G. and
+. Lee Winslow, Hcrtford. \. c. The
Aldermen heard one of these at a
time, in executive session. One after
another Of these engineers voiced the
opinion, in reply to questions, that
the public utilities companies will be
glad to sell at the city's own price.
In fact one of the engineers, who
had experience in similar situations
obligated to take the contract for en-
gincering the job with the under
standing that if the city bought the
existing properties, be would obtain
them at saving sufficient to more
than Offset the cost of his engineer
ing fee of five per cent Of the job
having in mind the citys offer of
S2J0,OO0 for the properties.
This engineer related the case of
Gainesville, Fla, Il town of about
the same size as Elizabeth City,
where the public utilities companies
refused TO sell and the city put in
its own electric light, water and sew
cragc. The final result was the
scrapping Of the privately owned
plants, the owners dismantling them
and selling them for junk. Similar
cases were cited. Not one of the
engineers consulted had an idea that
the public utilities companies could
restrain the city from building its
own plants.
1t was the opinion of the engineers
however that it would perhaps be ad-
visablc for the city to purchase the
existing properties at Il price and
get them out of the way. 1t is point
ed out that if the city does not buy
the existing plants, it will have to
go thru q rate war with these COM
panics until the companies are put
out of business, which will mean an
expense of many thousands Of dol
lars to the city and delay the time
when the city'S plants can operate
on Il paying basis. The existing COM
panics will for long time continue
to control the physical connections
they have already established.
1t was the opinion Of several OF
the engineers that the present clcc,
tric light, water and sewerage plants
are badly constructed and can never
be economically operated. Much ol
the equipment would have to bC
Scrappcd and therefore should be ap'
praised as junk or second hand ma
chincry. The city's one advantage
in buying the properties would bC
the immediate removal of compete
ton and immediate acquisition Of
poles, wires and pipe lines for de-
livcring service TO its patrons.
! ADVOCATES A MONUMENT