Municipal Ownership

MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP

Chelsea Owns Her Waterworks and Electric Lights

MAKES THEM BOTH PAY

Getting Her Street Lighting Free--Rates Charged Private Citizens.

The question of municipal ownership of water works, which when raised in Ann Arbor the other day seemed to meet the approval of public sentiment, is having a practical illustration in Chelsea. Chelsea owns her water works and her electric lights and President Staffan and Secretary McEwen when seen by an Argus staff correspondent stated that the revenue from private consumers of water ant electricity paid for all running expenses, interest on the investment and furnished the village with its street lights free.

The village bought its plant of F. P Glazier, who had established as a private corporation a water company and electric lighting plant. They paid $43.000 for the plants and it is said by some that they paid more than the physical value of the plant, part of the purchase price being for the franchise Be this as it may, they at once had to buy a new boiler at an expense of $2,000 and also a new dynamo and make many extensions. The extensions and new machinery cost $10,000. Last year $1,500 was borrowed for extensions.

The labor employed consists of an electrician at $60 a month. an engineer and a fireman at $40 each. The electrician is also an engineer.  About 50,000 gallons of water are pumped daily. Users of water are allowed to sprinkle their lawns from 5 a. m. to 9 a. m., and from 5 p. m. to 9 p. m. A street wash costs $4.80 a year. This sprinkles a lawn and the streets. A hydrant costs $7.20 a year. This sprinkles the lawn and permits water to be used for domestic purposes. Water inside and outside a house is furnished for $9 a year. The question of water for bath rooms bas not yet been raised.

The prices for electric lights are $5 a month for one arc light or $9 for two. Sixteen candle power incandescent lights are furnished stores at 50 cents a 16 candle power a month. Lights in dwelling houses differ according to number and location. On the first floor the cost per month is 50 cents for one light, $1.45 for three, $1.65 for four, $1.85 for five, $2.54 for 10 and 10 cents for each additional light. On the second floor 25 cents for one light, 40 cents for two and 70 cents for five. A light in a cellar or barn costs 10 cents a month.

Wells are the source of the village water supply and the two plants are run together thus greatly economizing power. Yet the main expense is the fuel used, that greatly exceeding the labor in cost. While protesting that they paid a big price, village officials express their belief that village ownership of water works and electric lights is a success.