The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1922-05-26
Nearly All Seemed to be FavOrably
Impressed With Possibilities
of the Plan

A number of citizens of the town
met with the city commission Tues
day night to discuss with the city Off
cials the proposition made by large
machinery concern to install a COM
plete electric power plant for the
city, which might be paid for out o
its own earnings, eliminating the ne
cessity for a bond issue or the as
suming of any considerable debt by
the city. Present at the meeting
were members of the commission,
the city manager. clerk, electrician,
G. Chadwick, C. NJ. Carrier, ]. n.
Skies, ]. M. Weeks, n. C. Hewitt, j.
e. Skipper, c. l.. Fries, Col Hancock,
H. w. Smith, Paul X. Garrett, and
the representatives. of the concern
proposing to install the plant, most
of those whose names are given be-
ing members of the advisory board
of the city commission.
Briefly, the plan as outlined by the
representative of the machinery COM
pany is this: The company will fur
nish the equipment for power plant
adequate in every way for the towns
needs, this equipment to include en-
gines and two so X. w. generators,
which will be sufficient for present
needs and for several years to come
unless the town grows very rapidly
The town must pay the expense of
Installing this equipment, the cost
being estimated at from $4,000 to
$4,000. This amount is all that the
town would be required to pay out
Immediately, and would take care of
freight, installation and necessary
building. The machinery company
will lease the plant to the town for
three years, and the town may pay
for ii in So equal monthly Install
ments, the title to the plant passing
to the town when the 36th payment
is made. These payments may Ire
made out of the earnings of the plant,
the company having no claim on any
other assets of the town.
Basing his estimate on the produc-
tiOn of the local plant during the lae
nine months of 1921 and the first
three months of 1922, the representa-
tive of the machinery company pre-
sented tabulated statement to sh
that such a plant would earn enough
to pay all the expenses connected
Herewith, with the exception of cost
of installing. and pay for itself in
three years, with $500 allowed for
incidental expenses and a small sur
plus. If the consumption of current
increases 10 percent year for three
years the plant would not only pay
its way but would yield consider
able profit besides, but it will pay
for itself if the consumption of cur
rent does not increase at all, accord
ing to the statement.
All of those present were called up
on for an expression of their views
on the matter. Mr.. Skies was in
clined to think that perhaps it would
be better for the town to have a guar
anteed rate, such as it has at present
under its contract with the utilities
company. Mr.. Fries disputed The ac-
curacy of the figures presented by the
company representative,
who replied that he had taken them |
from the towns official records, or
rather they had been furnished by
the town clerk, from records of the |
paid the utilities company. |
1t seems that the point Mr.. Fries was
driving at but did not succeed in |
making quite clear for sometime, was
that the amount of the cost of street !
lights was included in the estimate |
as income. This, according to the
clerk and the machinery man, was
entirely proper, since the street lights
are paid for out of the electric fund. |
Mr.. Fries explained that he was not
against the proposition bur just want
ed to understand things.
With the two exceptions noted |
above, it seems that consensus OF
opinion of all others present, includ- |
ing the city officials, was that the
plan seemed feasible, and offered an |
easy way for the town to acquire a |
power plant without any bonded in
debtedness, if, after thorough inves- |
tigation sand consideration the COM |
missioners and manager found that
everything was as represented, this |
idea being expressed in substance by
everyone present when called upon
for their views. The citizens present !
were assured by Mayor-Commissioner
Carleton that the city had no inten-
tion of proceeding with undue haste.
1t is likely that the manager and
will visit other towns |
where similar plants have been in
stalled for the purpose of getting |
first-hand information concerning
them, trips having been made by the |
manager and mayor to several places |