The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-08-17
LOCAL WATER !.
MAINS PLAN
I. Is APPROVED
Method Used by Bismarck
Proved Wise by Comparison
With Minnesota City
ROCHESTER'S SUCC ESS
City Producing Water and
Electricity Cheap for
Benefit of the People

Rochester. Mimi, Aug. 17.--Accom
plishments of Rochester, Mimi, II
the operation of a city-owned. wAtel
and power plant are of interest "a
Bismarck as she launches into own.
ership of a public utility. A study
of their plan is conclusive enough tc
prove the wisdom of the decision Of
the city council to finance Bismarck's
main extensions by assessment upon
property benefit. The Rochester
city y-owned water plant has sought to
pay for extensions out of operating
revenue and as political pressure has
forced many ill-advised and non
revenue producing extensions, earn.
ings to redeem bonds have not been
safeguarded as they will under the
system adopted in Bismarck.
Despite this handicap, however,
the Rochester plant is making fine
showing largely because it has con-
troll of its own power through city
ownership Of the electric light plant.
According to the latest report Of
the public utility board which man.
ages both utilities for the city the
net income for the year 1922-1923 was
$30.677.46. Water is pumped from
artesian wells to large reservoirs
and by gravity system is distribut-
ed to all parts Of the city. Rates
charged are as follows: $50 per 100
Gu. #. for first 5000 Gu. IT,, Ii for
next 5000 and .08 for all in excess.
A minimum Of $l.75 per quarter IL
charged.
Administrative and general OK
pense for the year 1922.20 was a..
0l7.4O. All members Of public utility
board appointed by Mayor with con-
sent of council serve. without pay:
The chief items Of expense are: Su-
perintendent's salary $2,4O0; Secre-
tary's $1,100; office salaries $l.552.-
80; reading meters $575.40.
Operating and maintenance charges
for Rochester plant, including de-
probation serving a population of
$4,000 with hotels and hospitals
housing clearly about 5000 persons
is $45,776.71. In this IL the follow
ing item which ordinarily is borne
by direct assessment or paid directly
by consumer. Extensions $4,S73; also
in this charge is an item Of $25,27l.-
20 for new pumps purchased out of
operating revenue.
Gross water sales were $68,92l.53
and total income from all sources
hydrant rental ETC., was $S9,171.s6.
Net income for the year was $3O,e77,-
46. Average cost to pump 1000 gall
Ions was 2.66 cents. Total pumpage
for year ending March 81, 1928. was
1871 $50 gallons at a cost of $l6.-
10000.
The city made profit out of it's
electric plant over a twelve month
period, April l, 1922 to April /, 1928
OF 8s,82s.s9. It did this in face Of
the fact that the city received juice
for pumping and street lights below
cost OF production.
The rates are as follows: Light
10 for first 80 k. W. h.: .08 for next
10; .07 for next 900;- .06 for next
1000 and .04 for all in excess. Heat:
Four cents per k. W. h. with $500
The power rate starts out
at .07 for first 100 k. W. h. and
"steps" down to .O35 for 1000 k. ". h.,
and .028 for all in excess with $1OO|
minimum. Ten percent discount is
given on these rates II bills are paid
before the 10th Of the month.
The issue before Rochester now is
to take up bonds faster than
they mature or give the people the
benefit Of lower rates at once. En-
gineer Wolff, who was consulting en-
gineer Of the Bismarck plant has
been employed to make several sur
veys for the city Of Rochester.
The city plant must have its coal
from Illinois at cost much in excess
Of Ignite. Thirty-six percent Of the
Juice has been produced recently by1
. hydro-electric plant whose ef-
IL mil" for rate making
purposes as low water makes It !
only at certain intervals.
mo change in rates has been made
nor have rates been based with this
plant as factor" said q Rochester
official to q Tribune correspondent.
Total electric sales amounted to
e314,l63.63 from April I, 1922 to
April I, 1928. Net profit was $149,- |
1861 and net income after all in
terest charges had been paid was
lsS. .s2s.s9.
This city plans on serving some Of |
The smaller villages adjacent. Gem
eral administrative expense Of the
plant was $14y6l3.26. Operating ex.
pense was distributed as follows: Coal
l71, ,9e5.82; water $l.6S7.20; labor
l1l.662.2b; helpers $4.6se.ss. Total
The steam electric plant which pro- :
duces practically 20 percent Of load
md sometimes more % the stage Of =
water in the river demands is valued
It $395, 1859. The hydro electric
plant Is inventoried at $1,000, 1862.
The wisdom Of which II a matter Of
controversy: certainly the invest
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