Crawfordsville Electric Light
Source: Crawfordsville Review 11 March 1893 p 1
Some Facts & Figures: Concerning the City’s Electric Light White Elephant
Below we print an accurate statement of the cost of running the city’s electric lght plant. The figures were copied direct from the books of Supt. Carr, city clerk Scott and Treasurer Nicholoson. Space forbids us this week from going into details but next week we will ask the council why they represent to the tax-payers that it costs the city but $24.80 for each arch light and why incandescent lamps are furnished at 26 cents per light when Supt. Carr testified that it cost 56 cents each to operate them. The Review will now begin a series of investigations and our readers may look for some startling developments.
Below is series No. 1
Cost of plant (about) ….. $83,000.00
Annual interest …….. 4,800.00
Depreciation on $60,000.. 6,000.00
Wages of employees …… 4,600.00
Fuel ……………………….. 2,400.00
Carbons $700; rent $200 .. 900.00
Water, oil, etc. ……………. 300.00
___________
$19,000.00
Less receipts for commercial lighting 7,200.00
138 street lights cost or $85.50 per year each 11,800.00
In place of rating each at 16 cents per 2,300 incandescent lamps which earn in gross per month per lamp, 25 cents. The city was offered 2,000 candle power street lights at $50 per year at wich 138 wou;d $6,900.00 They now cost the city $11,800.00, an annual loss of $4,900 and the plant yet to pay for.
Same source – The city electric plant is to be sold to a foreign syndicate. ‘Tis better so, as the city has almost reached the constitutional limit of taxation and is on the verge of bankruptcy. In a few months more this republican white elephant will have eaten us all up. Let loose of it while there is yet time.