The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1922-02-03
HAS MR., CROOK
PADDED CU''TS?.
Tells Corporaticr Commission
Sewerage Costs Over Sl3,-
900 Per Annum To
Operate

The North Carolina Sorpora-
ton Commission, that great (
friend and benefactor. of the COR
porations, is Being asked to per-
NIT the Elizabeth City Sewerage
Co. to raise its. sewerage rates
to $500 a month, an increase OF
S1.00 month over the present
rate. The sewerage, company
was recently granted an IN
crease from so cents to SlOO a
month by the Board of Alder
men and isn't satisfied with that. (
Howard L. Crook, Of Baltimore,
president and principal owner of the
Elizabeth City Sewerage Co., has filed
a petition with the Corporation Com
mission asking for a hearing. IL
In connection with his petition. Pres
ident Crook filed a statement with the
Corporation Commission setting forth
that the local sewer plant was operat-t
ed at a total aggregate loss of SS,51S.16
during the year 1921. Included in the
above total are items of S2,400 as in
terest at six per cent on the company's
investment of $4,000 and S1,200 as
depreciation on TIE property, figured at
three per cent on the investment
The total receipts from the $50 cus--
toners of the Sewer Company are,
shown as S4.057.50. as compared with
A net operating expense, exclusive OF
intel est and depreciation, of S9,35.O66,
according to Mr.. Crook.
Mr.. Crook would have it appear that
with interest and depreciation added !.
the cost of operating his dinky little
old sewerage plant is in excess OF S13,-
600 year. 1t is believed that his fg-
ures were obtained by deliberately run
ming up the cost of the operation of the
system for a period of 80 days and
that his figures are grossly misleading
if not purposely padded. The Board OF
Aldermen will attempt to show the
Corporation Commission that a liberal
allowance for every item OF cost would
place the annual cost of operation OF
Mr.. Crooks sewerage plant at SS.2lo.
In arriving at this figure the Alder
men allow six per cent interest on Mr.
Crooks own valuation of his invest
ment-$40, ,0O0-and three per cent for Z
depreciation on this investment.
The fact that the sewerage company
can not make both. ends meet on rate,
of LOO per month is due solely to the
cussedness of the sewerage company in
not extending it's lines to take in more
customers. More than 200 families
contiguous to the present lines OF the
sewerage company are clamoring fors
sewerage connection and can't get it be-
cause the sewerage company has re-
fused, in the face of its franchise with
the city. to extend its lines. Many OF
the better residential streets of the city
are without sewerage.
Alderman P. H. Williams of the
First Ward is assisting City Attorney
J. B. Leigh in the preparation Of a
protest to the Corporation Commission
against any further increase in sewer
age rates. Mr.. Williams says that he
speaks for the Board i'm saying that
the Aldermen will fight the proposed
increase to the last ditch. But Mr..
Williams points out that the citizens
themselves must bestir themselves and
back the Aldermen up vigorously thru
the Chamber of Commerce and Mercht
ants Association to impress the Cor.
poration Commission. The Chamber OIL
Commerce will take action in the mat
ter at its membership meeting and
dinner at the Southern Hotel tonight.