Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1867-01-11

other gentlemen who have different and
equally po.itive opinions on the subject.
The Mayer mentions some facts not gen
orally known, of Importance, such as that
the water rents IRON the present works, for
which the city paid S24,75O in bonds, do
moi exceed S2iOO per annum. and that the
expenses for the year, with an extra outlay
required for small amount Of new pipe
whore tie old R. r. bridge or Nam Street.
has bcen replaced by culyert, entirely ab-
sor6 the income that the water bonds OF
the city have no sale, although offered at a
discount Of FIVE per cent; and the insorma-
ton as to Mr.. Mcdonald s offer. The con-
ciusions be reaches are, in brief;
That the first cost Of the works on either
Of the two plans. Lake or river, will absorb
the entire appropriation Of $4,000.
That the river plan will furnish as good
water az the lake; that the works will be
more economically operated on that PLAN
and that consequently it Is the best plan OF
tie two.
That tie water rents of the new works,
without large increase Of the population,
can not exceed three times the amount now
received from the sd works Of the Aqueduet
Comrny.
That the expenses on the river plan in
cludin- interest on the water debt. and sink
ius lu1d. Will exceed the receipts by over
z,ne thousand dollars year.
Finally that it Is not expedient to adopt
either Of the plans at present; but instead
tina, the city can and should make tie pre-
sent works. with such gradual additions and
cnlars,uicuts as can be secured within an
aggregate total expense Of $4,000, answer
for lis present and prospective wants in the
near future.
We Do not propose to-day, to - lnto any
extended discussion OF these points.
We are strongly inclined to agree with
Mr.. McAlgire and the Mayor in the belief
that as good water can he obtained from tie
river, as from the Lake.
We have no doubt that the cost drumming
the pumps ioI raising the water by steam
from the Lake, would be from nr 10 ten tirles
as great, as Of Tais1ngi it from the river by
water power.
We do not consider the estimate Of ez-
penses as set down by Mayor Wales ezngger-
ated. Mr.. Linsley's estimate Of $500 for
operating the machinery is doubtless low
one. We suppose it is below the average
cost Of similar work in other cities, where
coal is cheaper than here. The addition Of
Sl7OO for additional expenses will not Tie
considered extTayagant when we consider
that the same items Of superiutendenco,
labor &C, on the present limited works,
now cost the city annually $1,000.
Whether the Mayors estimate of probable
receipts is correct or not we can not Judge
with our present information. We should
hope, however, that the rents would be
largely increased by new manufacturing os-
adjustments and increased population.
Finally we have no doubt that our citizens
as a whole, tranf he ,catcr; and if the re-
celpts can Tor ten years to come, come within
two or three thousand dollars of paying
the expenses, including interest, they viii
cheerfully tax themselves to make up the
balance, believing that the outlay Will be
fully repaid in the increased health, comfort,
security and attractiycncss Of our city as a
place Of business and abode
Whether, however, they want the water
bad enough to pay as high as s. 600 or
$4,000 a year, clear deficit over all receipts,
for it, increasing our present tazes by one
third, may well be questioned. And till it
is made clear that such will not be the effect
Of she adoption Of the plan passed by the
majority OF the Board Of Aldermen, the
slayor viii be likely to stand justified in tie
judgment Of a large and influential proror-
ton Of our community.