HERRING EXCITES TIE
INTEREST OF PUBLIC
The large court room in the Federal
building was comfortably filled last
night when the second session of the
public hearing in the proposed change
in electric light rates were held. Ma
yor Ray and all members of the city
council were present, and S. M. Graff,
and Counsel A. J. Dimond.
In answering questions propounded
by his counsel, Mr. Graff made the
statement that the estimated revenue
of his company under the proposed
ordinance with a six-hour day as a
basis would be $$S5 provided custom
ers used the same amount of light
with meters as they do under the pre
sent flat rate, but it was Mr. Graff's
opinion that the use of current with
meters would decrease considerably.
He stated that while a man could now
have two 40 watt lights in a room at
a basis of $1.40, under meters he could
replace them with 100 watt lamps
and still burn far less current than
with tlie two 40-watts. He estimated
tHat during the summer months use of
current would average less than three
hours per customer. He also said that
! his revenues were decreased when the
street lights were shut off in May and
through the summer months. He
showed that total power consumption
in the city was but 96 horse power,
which at the present price totaled one
half of one cent per kilowat hour. The
revenues from power are $302.62 per
month. Calculated on the basis of an
eight-hour day this gave a cost of one
half of one per cent for power. He
testified that his total revenues for
lights for January were $2,351.68. and
that his contracts called for 55,540 k.
w. hours, which on a 24-hour basis
made the lights cost 4.2 cents per k.w
Interrogated by Mr. Dimond, Mr.
Graff stated that he did not keep a
full set of books, such as the usual
public service corporation carries, as
the expense would be prohibitive. His
books show only capital stock, and in
vestment.
What is a
BANK?
A modern bank is more than a deposi
tory for money; more than a place upon
which to issue checks.
A modern bank is an institution of help
fulness to its depositors and clients. It
is interested in seeing that thev. are
prosperous and successful in the;r fi
nancial ventures.
Depositors who let us help them with
advice born of long experience, can tes
tify to the value of our service.
LET US SERVE YOU
Bank of Seward
ODD TROUSERS
>
We carry a complete
line of odd trousers to
match your Coat and
Vest.
Home of Hart Schaffnei & Marx Clothes
H. V. Hoben
SEWARD
A. F. Davis
THE ALASKA TRANSFER
Want Y OU
to try the
Baxter
COAL-.
The coal showing a greater content of heat units
per ton than any coal being mined in Alaska
Delivered to You at $11 per ton
ALSO HEALY LUMP, NUT, OR MINE RUN,
NANAIMO COAL IN SACKS OR BULK
Auto Service
OUR AUTOS MEET All BOATS and TRAINS
Telephone Orders to Main 81
After 5 p. m. until 8 a. m. Telephone Madison 24
City Attorney Smith then took the)11
witness in hand and by a number of
leading questions showed that Mr.
Graff believed that if the rates were
lowered more lights would be used
but the result would be a decided de
crease in income. If people were on
a meter service during the long days
of the summer months they would use
very little juice, the average the year
around being probably 50 per cent of
the present output. He declared that
at the present time his meters at the
central station showed a fifty per cent
more juice being list'd than his con
tracts called for, many persons using
larger lamps and small stoves who
were not paying for the same. While
under the meter system at a lower
rate, more juice would be used, the
total consumption would not meet his
payroll. He testified that he had,
granted but one special rate for cook
ing, and that an 80-ampere stove at
the present rate for power would cost
the user about $35 per month, such
stove using about 12 h. p. in current.
Mr. Graff at this point gave a most
interesting history of the power com
/•any, snowing it was acquired from
• the Seward Light Company tor $30,
000. He had put $70,000 in the plant,
in addition to the first cost, $27 000
extra in borrowed money, and 19
years of hard labor. Mr. Graft' said he
installed the first electric light plant
in Alaska at Juneau, and helped pro
mote the old Seward Light Co. He
stated that in the monts of June, 1908,
his total receipts were $162, and that
he and his sou run the business, do
ing their own repairing, and looking
after the generators. He testified that
under stress he could furnish 25 per
cent more power than at the present
time. He declared that many enter
prises in town were paying more than
they should, naming tlie Sexton Hotel,
the school house, etc. and that others
I
i
years he gave current tree to the fire
hall church, anil hospital as well as
maintaining 12 street lights, but that
owing to demands on the service he
was forced to discontinue the prac- j
tice.
Under Mr. Smith’s questioning, Mr.
Graff stated that the Sexton Hotel in
January paid $72.90; The Seward Ho
tel, $34.80; The Van Guilder, $54.30,!
and, the Hotel Overland, with a me-!
ter, $25.00.
Mr. Graff stated that while his com
pany would not be able to furnish
juice in large quantities to companies
coming in if any company signed a
contract at a reasonable rate, he
would provide 300 h. p. additional, but
that it would require three new pipe
! lines.
Mr. Graff admitted that since 1919
power rates had been raised from
$72 to $150 per annum. He explained
that if he installed an auxiliary unit
it would cost between 35 and 40 thou
! sand dollars, and would cost nearly
$4 per hour to operate same.
! Under Mayor Ray’s questioning, Mr.
Gralf stated that he valued the com
pany’s holdings at $183,000, with no
charge off for depreciation, amortiza
tion of obsolescence. He stated that
1 $36,000 per annum should be charged
off for depreciation, but that his gross
receipts in 1922 were $31,337 and in
order to secure the ordinary earnings
| on his investment he wrould have to
earn $63,237 with but 239 customers to
get it from.
In January of this year he had 71
business contracts,, with a revenue of
1 $1,505.99, or an average of $21.20 per
I customer. His gross returns tor 1922
were $31,337, which included labor,
Stock and electric current. This gave
him about $4,000 net. Mr. Graff said
he would install meters if the coun
cil gave him the privilege of charging
15 cents per k. w. hour for light and
ten cents for power, but any lower re
duction would be ruinous. Answering
Questions to the extension of the
telephone lines to take in the north
ern part of the city he said that if
the council would give him a franchise
i and allow him to raise his present
> rates 25 per cent he would place a
I trunk line to the northern end at a
I cost of about $6 000, but would have
! to have contracts for at least ten
phones to do so.
The meeting was most amicable, the
council and defendant cheerfully ex
plaining all questions involved. The
only hitch apparent in obtaining me
ters now appears to be the reductior
in the rates proposed by the council
which has set the rate at 12 y2, 10 ant
8 cents. Mr. Graff insists that the
light rate be 15 cents per k. w. hour
It is believed that the matter will yei
be adjusted without recourse to the
courts. The meeting will be continu
ed at the court house at 8 o’clock to
night.
ELKS TO MEET
The Elks will hold a meeting Thurs
day night at 8 o’clock in the Elks
club rooms.
H. PAINTER,
Secretary
Highland Linen Stationary, Schal
lerer’s Alaska Shop. tf.
Ladies’ and Gents’ Alfalfa Harvest
ing—O. K. Barber Shop. tf,
“Quality First”
FOR WINTER >
TIME IN <
NORTHERNA
CLIMES USE^J
NORTHLAND
SKIS
MADE IN PINE, Maple and Ash, 4 to 8 ft
lengths.
Prices ranging from $2.50 to $10.00.
SKII POLES and LACING.
Eastern Make and Native Snowshoes—Kid
Snow Skooters, $1.00. Ice Skates and
Ice Creepers.
SIMONS’ BEDS, MATTRESSES AND
SPRINGS.
“Built for Sleep.”
Red Star Coal Oil Ranges
Great Western Oak Heaters
EDISON MAZDA LAMPS.
CLOTHING
Madison 80.
GROCERIES
Main 1.
HARDWARE
Adams 80.
SEWARD
ALASKA
—ANCHORAGE
H
!T IS TIME 10 REFORM
LINE DRAWN between thrif
ty PERSONS AND OTHERS
There are three classes of people
in the world today, the stingy person, j
or the tightwad, the spendthrift and
the thrifty person. In which class do
you belong A stingy persons puts the
mere saving of 'money above every |
thing else. The spendthrift thinks he
can enjoy nothing; unless it costs much
money, but the thrifty person spends
according to his means, gets enjoy
ment for money spent for legitimate
pleasures and has additional cause of
contentment in the knowledge of wise
spending and saving. If you belong to 1
either of the first two classes it is
time to reform for you are not getting
all you can out of life. But if you be
!or«r to the last, long may you live
and set an example to your friends i
| and neighbors. !
--
Join the Chamber of Commerce.
WOMAN’S CLUB TO MEET
The Seward Woman’s club will
meet tomorrow afternoon at 2 p. m. at
the City Hall.
i Brunswick Phonographs and records
■ at Scliallerer’s Alaska Shop. tf
Remington Portable Typewriter, at
$60 —Schallerer’s. tf (
FOR SALE—1 Axminster rug, 9x12, |
$30; 1 Art square 9x12. $18; 1 bath
cabinet with lamp, $15. Phone Main!
o tf
FOR RENT—Furnished apartments.1
See Mrs. Paulson. 23tf.;
-
New shipment of Men's Overcoats
Urbach. U
FOR SALE—At a sacrifice, six
rooms and bath; see Dougherty, tf
FOR RENT—Furnished house, si
rooms and bath, furnace. See Dough
rety. tf
Eastman Kodak Agency, Alaska
t Shop. tf.
Suits maae to measure, see Urbach.
WANTED—Ten thousand men writh:
t long hair and whiskers to call at the,
5 O. K. Barber Shop. tf j
Fresh Haas Candies—Alaska Shop.
HALIBUT BOAT ROLF
LOST AT COLPOYS
The small halibut boat Rolf which
went on the rocks at Point Colpoys,
early last week, sank in deep water!
shortly after. When word of the acci-|
dent reached Petersburg the coast'
guard cutter Smith was sent to the
scene of the accident.
Logs were placed by the boat to
keep it on the reef and when they
found that they were unable to float
P. G. McMullen
GENERAL MERCHANDISE
HILLS BROS. COFFEE
ONE POUND CANS
TWO POUND CANS
FIVE POUND CANS
TWENTY POUND CANS
S. and W. COFFEE
ONE POUND CANS ONLY
SHILLING'S COFFEE
ONE POUND CANS ONLY
TELEPHONE MAIN 34
Try the Drug Store first
Seward Drug Go.
SHELF and HEAVY
HARDWARE
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
Fishermen’s Supplies, Gasoline and Distillate
Hardware, Stoves and Ranges, Powder, Ammunition, Caps, Fuses,
Guns, Paints, Oils, Furniture Rugs, Linoleum and Congoleum
TOYS AND NOVELTIES
J. L. GRAEF
SEWARD
LIGHT and POWER CO.
PHONE, MAIN 0.
SEWARD,
ALASKA
her, the Cygan was sent for. The Cy
gan went to the oil dock and secured
several empty oil drums with which
they hoped to float the boat off the
rocks.
The Rolf only reached Petersburg
recently from Seattle and was on her
way to the fishing grounds when the
reef was struck.
The boat was owned by Alfred H.
Howe and A. Nelson, the latter waa
captain at the time of the accident.