COLBY, KANSAS LEVIES NO TAXES FOR THREE YEARS
COLBY, KANSAS, LEVIES NO TAXES FOR THREE YEARS Publicly Owned Utilities Prove Big Success; Give Fine Service At Low Rates Special To The Progressive) COLBY, Kans.—For three years the people of...
...JOBLESS FORCED TO WITHDRAW SAVINGS NEW YORK CITY — Unemployed fathers are forced to reach for the pennies and dimes of their children that are deposited in savings banks...
...Many banks, in forwarding their statement of results, have said that deposits are unsatisfactory because of the extent of unemployment in their respective areas...
...Besides making it possible to discontinue all city taxation, profits from the operation of the water and electric plants have been sufficient to pay the outstanding interest on all of the city's bonds, and has even been sufficient to pay off a small issue of bonds...
...The American Bankers' Association states that children's savings declined $2,849,400 during the year ending June 30 last, despite increased enrollment of children in public schools...
...Per kilowatt hour charges for electricity vary from six cents to 12'- cents in steps of 100 and 50 kilowatts, according to the amounts used...
...The funds to pay for this improvement are in the city treasury and it will be paid for in cash...
...At the present time the plant is being operated on an efficient basts by- two 200 H. P. and one 600 H. P. diesel oil engines, and another 600 H. P. engine is being installed at a cost of $40,000...
...Colby recently changed from a third to a second class city on the basis of the Census enumeration...
...The people of Colby consider their very successful light and water utilities to be the biggest asset the town has, and in spite of early difficulties have in the great majority supported the principle of public ownership and operation...
...As time went on...
...Give Fine Service At Low Rates Special To The Progressive) COLBY, Kans.—For three years the people of this town of more than 2,300 have had to pay no local taxes because the profits on the municipally owned and operated water and light utilities have made it unnecessary to levy taxes for city purposes...
...The plant has produced earnings, in addition, that have paid all of the city's bills and kept the municipal treasury in good i condition...
...In 1910 the population was given as slightly over 1.100...
...On account of the cost of coal, operation of the steam plant was unprofitable, and it was decided to install oil deisel engines...
...and the 1930 census showed a population of 2,340...
...Water rates in Colby are much lower than in many surrounding towns, and the rates on electricity compare favorably with those of private plants in this part of the country...
...E. H. Benson, who has been mayor of Colby for nearly eight years, has had an active part in the development of the public utilities of the town...
...He recently stated that the people of Colby "like municipal ownership and our people feel that our water and light plant is the biggest asset the town has...
...Demand was small and it was discovered that it was impossible to operate the plant, which was run by steam, continuously and it was closed down at midnight...
...The growth of Colby, according to a receni compilation, is credited as being the largest in the state within the last 20 years...
...There can be scarcely any doubt of the necessity of parents to dip into the savings of their children...
...the bankers state...
...In 1910 when there were only a little over 1,100 people in Colby the municipal electric plant was installed...
...The efficient operation of the water plant, has made it possible to reduce rates, and each year they are reduced 25 per cent during the summer months so that consumers may have the benefit of ample water for lawns, gardens, trees, flowers, or other irrigation purposes...
...Demand for service grew, and the plant grew with it, the new oil engines being installed...
...The town is a county seat and is in the center of a fertile farming and stock raising district...
...In addition, rates to consumers tor electricity and water are as low or lower than surrounding localities where the utilities are privately operated...
...This was done about 1920, and immediately the plant became a paying proposition...
...Although the history of Colby's public utilities is a stormy one and a number of times due to the installation of an inefficient steam plant public operation seemed to be a losing proposition, the utilities today are more than successful and are showing big savings to the city as well as rendering the best of service...
...however, the town grew and the demand for electric service grew and it became evident that 24 hour service was necessary...
Vol. 1 • November 1930 • No. 48
