Favorable Figures

New York, 1895

The Village May Build Its Water and Electric Eight Plants.

The water and electric light service of the village of Jamaica costs $16,000 yearly. Recently the village Trustees appointed a committee, Messrs Van Allen and Twombly, to ascertain the probable cost of a water and electric light plant to be owned by the village. The committee directed Engineer Evans to make an estimate of the probable cost. This he has done, and his report is now in the hands of the trustees.

By the engineer's figures a water plant of a capacity to supply 25,000 inhabitants, or 1,500,000 gallons of water daily, with 18 miles of pipe, 200 hydrants, stand pipe 40x80, fire proof engine house and house for keeper, would cost $100,000. An electric plant of 200 arc lights, 800 candle power, would cost $15,000; incandescent light, same number and power, $40,000. The committee thinks that would be a big saving to the village to own its own plants. Bonds could be issued for $150,000 at 4 per cent, making the interest on the debt $6,000, a saving of $10,000 yearly, to which is to be added the water rents from private consumers, which would more than pay the cost of running both plants.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, March 15, 1895, p. 1.