Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1923-09-21

we beg to submit the following
figures as an approximate cost
of electric operation:
From a recent article which
appeared in your paper, we note
that the water requirements
were 160,000.000 gallons cover.
ing a period of eight months or
approximately 250,000,00O gal
Ions per year. This water is
pumped through two stages from
the well to the mains by the use
of an air compressor for raising
the water from the wells to the
reservoirs located at the pumping
station and from these by re-
ciprocating steam pumps to the
distribution mains. The APP
proximate pumping rate of the
present plant is 900 gallons per
minute. We do not have the
correct information as to the
amount Of water that was pump
ed during the year 1919 when
this plant was electrified. but we
are led to believe that the de-
mand for water today has NOT
exceeded that to any great eX-
tent. At that time the average
monthly consumption of electric
energy was $4,000 X. ". II.
Supposing the increased demand
for water required kilowat
hour increase Of 1l.3 per cent
or $4,000 per month, the cost
of current per year would be
$4,000. The employment of
two operators al 500 per month
would amout to S2400 per year,
allowing $500 for oil and waste
at $1,000 for repairs and incl
dentalS. making d total produc-
ZION cost Of S15,700 per year.
Your recent article states that
the receipts for eight months
were S17.429.25 OF on the basis
Of one year at the same rate,
the receipts would amount 20
S26.l5S.S7. While we are not
familiar with the method the
city uses in computing their ex-
penses, we feel certain that
part Of the expenses shown COW
ers maintenance of pipe lines.
From comparative costs obtain
ed from other cities, a mainten-
ance cost for Americas should
not exceed $4,000. If this be
true the saving the city would
make in electrifyiug the present
plant would be something over
$4,000 per year.
While the present water plant
contains all the necessary cleo
trical apparatus for changing
over, there will be practically
no cost 10 the city for making
The change except a slight cost
probably, which would be neces-
sary in re-arranging the wiring.
We feel certain, however that
the pumping expense could be
reduced 10 per cent or more by
the installation of a smaller and |
more efficient electrically driv-
en- pump.
In making these estimates we
are not familiar with the meth
Cd the city uses in arriving at
its costs but we have made
ample allowance in each case.
both for current and labor, and
we feel certain that both of
these items can be further re-
duced with proper supervision.
We shall be very glad to ex-
tend to the city the service OF
our Engineering Department to
determine methods of reducing
costs without any expense to the
city. We shall also be very glad
to make an analysis of the infor
nation and data that the water
department may have in order TO
determine the ACCESSIBILITY of
electrifying the water system.
Very truly yours,
L. L. FERREE,
General Manager.
In replying to the above quoted
letter Mr.. Ferree states that with
the information he has in hand, he
believes the city can save, with
practically no added expense. more
than $4,000 annually.
Following is Mr.. Ferree's ans
wer to our letter quoted above
Mr.. Loyelace Eve,
Americas, Ga.
My dear Mr.. Eve:
There is nothing that | care to
add to my letter except one item.
which had forgotten at the
time, and which is repairs to the
Coal Trestle." As both the CITY
Plant and our own Plant is sup
piled from the same trestle. we
nave Peen advised by the Rail
road Company that our part
must be repaired and the CITY
part as well. / have received
reliable information that the re-
pairs as requested by the Rail
road company delivers its coal
$1,000, and it would cost US
more than that for our part, but
as we are not operating the
steam plant we do not intend to
have the trestle repaired. Bv
changing the water plant to cleo
tuc drive, would eliminate aDv
expense to the City for such re-
pairs at this time.
| am informed that the Rail
road Company delivers its coal
to the city now by pushing the
car IN on condemned trestle bv