siblings-i4
CONDITION OF
“-4, "LIGHT PLANT
(continued troul Page One)
J'plait is final-tel? free. ol debt. it is
modem; thefltyacentaoriu it
an expense to th - taxpayers and at-
4 ther city in the ‘.'l.iied States whose
, : mnlcipal lightil... plant is in such_
oxlceilcnt condition could not be
loud.
it was but a few days ago that a
communication was received from J..
L. Mccofli. chairman of the Citizens’
Committee. of Atlanta, Georgia. The
"that community is at present as-
M the
«ship of electric
phat. for their city and made
municipally owned
plant.
ed over to Ir. Winchester and
answers forwarded to Mr. McCord.
The following me the questions
and aswers which thoroughly‘ ea-
plsin the workings of plant to
thu:..: who may be unacqnalnted with
them:
Cltizens' Committee.
J. L. McCord, Chairman.
Atlanta. Ga... March 19th. 1919.
Mayor,
City of South Nat-walk.
South Norwaik. Conn.
Dear Sir:
“'9 are agitating the question of
‘nnnieipal ownership of electric
lights and power plants tar our city.,
and Would like very much to have the
benefit of any experience of yours
that might help us in our campaign.
We would appreciate sincerely your
answering the following questions
bearing on this subject:
1. Does the city own and operate
an electric light. and power plant?
2. if so. on what. date did the city
begin to operate the plant?
3. What was the cost of the plant?
4. What is the cast of the genera-
tion of light and power per kilowatt
hour? '
5. Does the city plant sell light and
power to private consumers?
6. if so. what. is the price charged
per kilowatt hour for
Domestic lighting?
. Commercial lighting?
Power?
Heating
7. What charge is made to the. city
'for light and power furnished to the
city by the plant?
8. What per cent. is allowed annual-
ly for depreciation?
9. What debt rests upon the plant?
10. What was the cost of light and
power to the city before the building
of its own plant?
We would also appreciate very
much your answering the following
questions with regard to gas plants:
1. Does the City own and operate a’
can plant?
2. If so, what date did the city he-
sin to operate some?
3. What was the cost of same?
I. What. is the cost of producing
. gas per thousand cubic feet?
5. files the city plant IQ gas
private consumers?
6. if so. What; is .010 price charged
per thousand cubic font?
7. What. charge is inside to the city
for can furnished to the city by the
in
plant 1 l
8, What, per cent. is allowed annual-
iy for depreciation?
9. What debt rests upon the plal'lt.’Y
10. \Vhat was the cost of gas to thnl
city bf'fnl'e lhl' building of its own
plant? 4
. April :3. MM
lion. J. 1;. Mc(‘ortl. Chairman. l
(titlzens' Committee, '
Atlanta. (la. 1
Dear Sir-—
‘Your favor of March 19th to the
Mayor of South Norwalk. requesting
information as to our experience with
electric lighting and power under
Municipal Ownembip. was recently
referred to us for reply by His lion-
or. Jeremiah Donovan. Mayor of the
City of Norwalk. But before pro
needing we would explain our munici-
pal status by stating that what was
originally the City of South Norwalk.
though it retains its independence in
certain municipal functions. it ceased
to be a separate city in 1913. when
it and the remainder of the Town of
Norwalk were consolidated in tho
fomatiou of the new and larger City ,
of Norwalh.
Pbr the sake of brevity we will not
quote the questions but will give the
answers in numerical rotation. ac-
cording to the designating numbers.
followed by some remarks no request
ed of connected interest:
1. This plant, which supplies elec-
tricity for lighting and power. is own-
ecl by that part of the City of Nor-
walk which was formerly the t‘ity of
South Norwalk.
2. it was established by the t'ity in
1892 aad‘besan to reader service 0c-
tober 13th of that year.
3. The original cost was covered
by a bond issue of $22,600.00 for a
street. lighting pleat only, to which
$20,000.00 was added for a. commar-
cisl service sodium in 1898. Since
then the plant. has been enlarged
many times and now represents an
investment ot—o‘vfi’flzsnoeoo. All of
which, including the bonds has been
(Entirely refunded from earned pro-
ts. .
4. I-br the Kilovwatt-llonr cost of
generatim. please see our 1918 report
enclosed. The extraordinary high
unit cost should be understood as
having been. due to the abnormal cost
of operation under war. conditions.
during which time the largest item.
that of fuel. reached an increase of
20 per cent. and still holds.
i. This plant sells electricity for
all lighting. power and kindred pur-
poses. commercial and public.
within the area of the former City of
Stain Nerwulh.
_ _ 3. Mr service rates.
film on pages 22 and 23 of on:
Inger-pert; £3001: Rote
-aaeu. 'm 1' lights; It Be
: dofw- .p‘fir-porjbw'h.
bluesy-r.)
ion of municipal own-
lightu and pow‘er
“-
ouiries about our plant and suited. for
-the opinion of Mayor Domvan of a
light and power
The communication was turn-
the
please see
en-
II-
1
O
_.—..
supplied at
.for. the municipality is
This intludos
lcost, withwt profit.
. m acumen-ion
“:i’ .41qu Milli
t.
7. All lighting and power service'llalled by the former City or South
Norwalk. W'hen the new City of Nov-
.walk was formed .this plant was not
street lighting. public buildings and surrendered to the enlarged mania.
' municipal service.
i 8. No charge for depreciation is
inow maintained. This is becauseJhe
lplant met its entire depreciation. on
,the basis of 100 per cent. some years
ago by paying up its entire capitaliz-
ation or investment from its earned
'proflts and stands entlrely free from
.debt without having cost the tax-
payers a dollar. Further than this.
itllas paid dividends into the munici-
jpsl treasury. has loaned money to
- the municipality without interest and
has recently presented the City with
1 nearly two miles of ornamental street
lighting and steel poles. All surplus
iprofits slnceihe plan was paid for
are applied to a Reserve Fund for.
{the plant's benefit. which now stands
'at nearly $16,000.00._
9. As stated above, the plant
, without debt.
10. The cost of lighting and power.
before the advent of this plant. was
. upwards of 50 per cent. higher than
‘sime. The prior service was sup-
plied by a decrepit. company with
faulty regularity and inadequacy;
Iihert‘fore the municipal plant was
forced as an alternative’ to insure
good and economic service that the
[private company we. unable to sup-
‘ply; notwithstanding the fact that
fit was given ample opportunity and
encouragement to fulfill its obliga-
tlon.
With regard to y r questions on
'the subject of gas t en.- ls_nothing
. for us to say from the standpoint of
municipal ownership experience. as
.tllo local service is supplied by a
private corporation.
; With regard to our opinion of a
municipaliy owned light and potter
2plant. we will otter the following ob-
iservations. As you will have noted
above, this plant was built and estab.
'pete with each other.
is thing was tried for many years'by the
lpamy. but. under a special provision
in the new City Charter it. has re-
mained exclusively owned and oper-
ated by the citizens of a taxing die
trict which is the successor of the
former City of South Norwalk. Thus
it is under the independent manage-
ment of a Board of Electrical Cola-
said district. to when said board is
missioners elected by the voters of
solely responsible.
East Norwaik. another section of
the new city is also served by its
own municipal plant. while the rest
of the city is supplied by a local
branch of the large state-Wide Con-
necticut 'Ught & Power Company.
This private corporation and the
two municipal plants no longer ala-
That sort of
predecessors of the present company
without advantage. And now each of
the three systems cooperate har-
moniously with each other in an ear-
nest endeavor to render teed eco-
nomic service. each in its own uncon-
tested field. but altogether tor the
best interests of the community as a
whole and. consequently .for the best
good of all concerned. '
Today and ever since. the vitality-
first anniversary of its birth. this
plant. after more than twenty-six
years' experience has a continuous
commercial and public success. from
the standpoint of results. is about
twenty times its original capacity
and represents an investment of
more than $225,000.00; but one dol~
larofwblch has come tronsny
source except from the profits re-
sulting from the commercial ser-
vice rendered—exclusive of public
service. Thus it ' free and
clear of all debt at having cost
luClty or its cuts.- owners say-
l
Tell your
ru n—down condition.
strong.
WWMTake
“California Syrup of Figs"
For the Liver and Bowels
druggiat you want gcnline
"California Syrup of Figs."
anddoseforbabiesaoddliidrenof alleges
who are constipawd, bilious, feverish. tongue-
coated, or full of cold,
the bottle. Look for the name “Columbia"
and accept no other "Fig Symp."—-Bewatel
firedflverworkedMothers
What You Need is Vino]
\Var conditions have made the demand u
mother’s time and energy unlimited.
to do all in their power for their loved ones, they
continually overwork and are soon in a nervous.
. Vinol, the non-secrct-cod liver
and iron tonic, will build you up and make you
HERE [3 PROOF
Full directions
are plainly printed on
a
In their zeal
l with the sentiment of civic pride and
That :1“;me
is unusual, tsvorable as it s .
m contains the densest popu~
lotion and greatest grand list. value,
otanydumct ofthe new city. it Is!
also the princl commercial and;
center of one at the most:
important manufacturing Cm“ 0‘ i
mention New mim- ’
Ital-eon: this little plant has loan-i
all its surplus funds when not . -,
(‘d by it. to the municipality without:
interest. has paid many thou-ml... o. g
dollars as a girl to the people. l’ .i
the municipal llczlsuty rml t‘n'j' ..,
few months a; '2 .t en... ..ti an 0!-
ten-lye ammonia] street lighting 1
and steel pole system. at a coat of
more than 540,000.90. but entirely
poid for from it! acct-ante! pro‘
fits. This system is original to South ‘
Not-walk. devised “holly by thisi
plant's numerical and lo remarks-g
bio for its high eflciemy and low op- :
Grotto: cost. It has bus so well?
thought of that the General Electric
Company has adopted it as a new
standard in the public lighting art.
This the little plant has given to its
community in response to its citi-
aene‘ desire for Min: progres-
sive. As stated before. it ,ahould be
remembered that all street tins
and other public has bean
supplied at cost; thus the ornamen-
tal system has been created out of
the profits for commercial service
clue.
During the recent war our plant
kept its prices at the low peacetime
balls, even though its big items of
ovation cost soared upward more
than 100 per cent. above normal.
Therefore. unless thus eplxained its
income for the past couple of years
seems not to have yielded a true pro-
fit. in fact though its incense has
been somewhat greater than the out ,
50, yet. the surplus would not have
paid the tun-rent on the investment.
had libero been any such interest to
pay. But as the investment had been
liquidated. thus the item of interest
was eliminau-d. Consequently during
that time at stress. the real profit
remained in the pockets of the cou-
auiners and municipal treasury. as
the Will!) or raising lighting and
power rates throughout the United
States was ("reed upon pflvaie un-
dertskinp at this character and the
people had in mH’l the deficit in all
such cases. “'llvrt‘us the people of
this community «are saved just that l
much. Rerrn'ly illl- cont-timer! have,
been asked to aid the pfnnt Just a“
little by a H'mporary increase of to
per mt. ltl fllf’ll‘ rates.
With lhl~ e are sending you curl
T'enty-sir \nnuai Report for the
y...- em: July 31. 1918; we also on-
in.
tormmw l and data that. may be of!
sen-in 'u you in considering your,
problem In addition you will find‘
some n mted thought touching uponé
munitvlmi ownership. ;
As in: our opinion llpun illil-l great 5
questmn of public ownership. what!
would \‘w think here be worth mi
you in the consideration or your,
needs .illd conditions Which are now
doubtcdly very dim-rent from ours?
So tar mtflliciml ownership has treat-
ed as pretty well under the encourl
agents-m of a determination to maln-
it win. not for the sake of municipal
ownership. but bee-lose we undertook
it of necessity and have had to make
it meet our need. Like all success.
ours has been the product of honest
endeavor .much hard fighting. consid-
crablr personal sacrifice. heart aches.
all amid much Joy and with the hum
of apprehension. doubt and some-
times very discouraging criticism us.
uslly mmnu-rscted by praise no more
justified. But we have never beenl
discouraged. for we have always felt
that vie-were right; hence victory
was always more than half on our
side. Municipal owner-hip must
stand or full on its own merits. it is
a strict business proposition and. be-
ing such it must be well seasoned
the desire to excel; not in contrast
with private ownership as the motive,
but for the purpose of yielding the
greatest good. It is more open to
failure than any other form of pub-
lic undertaking because the public is
not always wit-edit selecting its busi-
ness managers from among m not.-
ed for meat integrity combined
with business capacity. and keeping
them on the job as long as they
make good. it must have far more
~watchful care than private ownership
on the part of the public to keep it
pure and safe from evil infliuence.
Private ownership can do usually
A-..
. .Malring Thrift a
' Pleasure
Wo-eu save une' . .
and money, and tickle l
of the whole family
when they serve ‘ .
ole-ayes; Jamal-mot .
bur wit
the Man-.4 of ibil WU. comet
years n. ._ which contains some
v
m.-
I .
ll e
.
',-
ll
Q
I
‘ Wn*t~ a-..
o
_’ ' Gingham Week,
it is a favorable time to select summer
gowns for the assortment is very large. The
large plaids. French and Scotch styles are in
very charming colorings and conlbinations.
Andersona. best imported gingham, 32
inches wide, $1.25 a yard.
Zephyrs. soft ginghams in clear colors,
launders perfectly, 32 inches wide.
' 50 and 75 cts.
Domestic Ginghams, all staple patterns,
27 and 32 inches, 35 and 45 cts.
Bates Ginghauvs, serviceable f or all
around wear, 32 inches, 35 cts.
2‘1... n... 1.1,. “Third floor.
Klearflax Rugs
This week an exhibit of Klearilax Bugs in spring
colorings; The one-toneshade appeals very strongly
to those who furnish the house conservatively. .Tllcsc
rugsare of linen and because of their peculiar tight
close weave there isno pile to roughen. The rugs (in
not show fool marks readily, neither do they gather
and hold dust. Double side is also a big value becauw
it virtually "doubles the life of the rug.
9x12, $39.60 6 x 9, $19.30
3 x it), $29.39 27 x 54 inches, $3.75
Fourth t'
..
.—
On the Toilet Table
Gordon of A“, a vanishing
Pocketbook and Purses
ol’couvcoiestcbaracter
large envelope shapes in meant to use when lllotgsiga,‘ a. 1” l
l mu, ‘~ l N.
mifi’m :33 bue‘inau‘fiamr- Bath Salts. very delightful,
. .93.? gr - $1.00 a bottle.
Purses of long grain black letlth- Talcum Powders, Rose Omar.
Garden of Allah and Tenfold Lilac,
each 50 cts. a bottle.
Danae Pace Powder, 3 fine (11...!-
ity in all shades, blanche, row. It“.
chel, naturelle, always 50 r-ts. a
box, special 39 cts.
Uardas Bath Tablets, mw tin: «u
tablets for 25 cts.
er with back straps, also an as-
sortment with double flaps, gray
and brown, $3.50 .
Square Purses of black patent
with a V heat of red, very mart,
, . mo
Black patent Purses with red pat-
ent trimmed flaps, back straps, in-
side mirrors, $3.
Purses of red patent leather. back
or top straps. inside mirrors, $3M
Block Pm of crepe leather or
morocco. top straps, $2.00
All assorted coup of Purses,
y or brown with back straps and
ide mirrors,
Vaehette, three Sizes. all with
back straps and inside mirrors,
\
\l .i
Silk Gloves ‘
Well known makes in . w »
heavy quality silk, gray and in-
gee with contrasting welt. tops 1
bucks have heav stit(:llii.;_
darker shades, maiing n pl. i.
effect, $2.00
Gmps, tans and challlptlu‘ln‘ ....l.
ors, heavy silk, double ti})1,n-.i.$200
A variety of colors and u «211:».
misfit. 85 ea, $1.15, $1.50 and 31,75
WW 1.. " n c: "‘Futurist': Underwear
a ”an” 0“ ‘3‘” Women's Hodern Undergarment-
for May. . . , 1 p 7
. Made of dainty, sheer, soft namsoo. M “
’ 15m “”1," Itste. Al garlfnent that fills the dméld M ~ ‘1
‘ . ° - etic sly es 0 women’s union Suits, in .-
tiofiseiiiiy subscnp strictly feminine in quality and finish. .
. ”’ - lainsook , white or flesh color. >200
3150 N 9°"- B‘W. white only, ql-fil
M‘
“4...... Art Section. fip
mommies '
beds. and conflicting oblige/small consumer as m
being both the served andibi one. in this l-«w
A Is: an be his own era. the electrh n: »
.3
ia ' 4099 009:.wliolcsale and 1mm: .
e low unto it- ' scattered tile dun-l.
3‘“ pilot! , r the. quantity (ll ‘m- .‘.
cannot be operated on us must be. the losses x
as socieut‘unit costs at. illv w“
M M m;!c”mmuy l"dH\ m'I‘
needed at low- and right there h
the-anew er and the ,pl-mluwv ._
i clash. T0 ”10 On" T‘I‘ll!‘
ship seems to be m.
“I! no end; to lllt .
mv Pal?
‘3
Norwalk Chronicler