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This newspaper page contains 19 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Pella Chronicle
Location
Pella, Iowa, United States of America
Date
Oct 31, 1907
Page
3
The ad touts Dr Pierce Favorite Prescription as a non alcoholic tonic aiding women with heavy duties including motherhood. It claims to prepare the system for childbirth, is a medicine of known composition with ingredients listed on wrappers, and offers free endorsements booklets. Also mentions Dr Pierce Pleasant Pellets for constipation.
A critical study contrasts American private telephone networks with European state systems. It praises U S operators for efficiency, pay, and service while noting Europe lags in installation, pricing, and modernization, citing London Paris and Berlin practices and worker conditions.
City auditor reports seven months ending March 31 1906 show lamp cost far above private bids. All night service costs cited at 68.84 per acre, disagreed with mayor and university reports. Construction cost rose to 86001 from an initial 55000, with annual expense overages. Official juggling alleged to hide true municipal plant burden.
London authorities report they cannot sell or lease Thames steamboats and will run them briefly this summer. Fares and wages will be cut. the committee says the boats will not be operated after the season. The council rejects municipal power plant plans and will not run the plant under any circumstances.
An editorial in Fire and Water Engineering argues municipal water departments should be billed by the departments that use it. It contends water use by cities taxes taxpayers, funding boulevard irrigation and protection of property, including water for nonpaying tenants.
Crawfordsville Indiana trustees raise street lighting charges after reporting a net profit of 6727 dollars in the annual electric light plant report. The profit figure excludes interest and depreciation totaling nearly 10000 dollars annually, prompting questions about accounting methods.
Knightstown Indiana voters face a referendum on issuing ten thousand dollars in bonds to fund extensive repairs for the municipal electric lighting plant. The article notes the proposal and the vote threshold but records no final outcome.
Editorial criticizes Freeport’s municipal lighting as overpriced due to bungling. It compares a private plan offering $1,500 annual rent plus $4 lights to the village’s own operation, which would cost taxpayers far more and raise taxes between $9,000 and $16,50 to cover street lighting.
Mayor Shumway requests council inquiry into Galesburg water operations reporting monthly rentals of 1400 while hydrant costs reach 1000 and expenses total 2500, with no depreciation or sinking fund. He says three quarters of water pumped is unaccounted for and urges survey, rate revisions, and suspension of free water list.
A 1902 census report edited by T Commerford Martin compares municipal and private electric plants. It finds private plants outperform municipal ones in kilowatts per wage earner and per dollar of wages, with municipal output 72 percent of private and efficiency at 81 percent per dollar, burdening taxpayers.
There is a curious analogy between chemical and economic experiments. Equal volumes of hydrogen and chlorine stay a quiet mixture in the dark but explode in bright light. Likewise truth and falsehood in municipal plant reports stay quiet until investigation shines light, leaving little of the report intact.
Municipal ownership theories and socialist doctrines influence Seattle finances. Two years ago Seattle securities were the quickest to be invested in and most sought after, but now eastern markets show a different timetable and demand shifts.
An editorial argues municipal ownership claims to serve the public at cost, but in practice cities handle higher expenses with lower charges, while absorbing deficits through debt and depreciation failures. It cites Philadelphia gas works as an example where private gain precedes public interest.
The Milwaukee city council authorized a $500,000 bond to build a municipal lighting plant. The estimated cost rose to $1,800,000, and a bond issuance was approved without reconsulting voters. The comptroller balked, but the attorney overruled, raising questions about abuse of power by agents of the people.
Kirkwood Missouri reportedly halted its electric light plant and pursued a private current supply, a plan not completed as the company allegedly failed to act in good faith. Mayor Ochterbeck criticizes the municipal plant as outdated since its inception in 1001, with high production costs and depreciation making it unprofitable for the city.
The notice lists regular Sunday worship times for Second Reformed, Third Reformed, First Christian Reformed, Second Christian Reformed, and M E Church. It includes morning and afternoon services, Sunday School times, evening services, and church activities led by W S Riddle and T J Edmond. All are invited to attend.
Aldermen vote five year length and consider a municipal plant at Sancock Michigan. An engineer’s low estimate of 15000 contrasts with another disinterested engineer’s figure of 33000, prompting debate on cost and feasibility.
In 1898 Greenwood District of Columbia issued 6 percent bonds totaling 57,868 for a water and light plant. The last report shows none paid, the generating plant shut down as buying current was cheaper. A ten year contract was made, but at period’s end the plant will likely be antiquated and written off, while interest on the bonds continues.
Opinion argues that poor city governance makes municipal ownership dangerous as public utilities risk becoming private property of government leaders. The piece warns against centralized control, positing leaders use power to enrich themselves and private wealth.
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