The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-03-08
[For the Morning Star.
THE WATER w0RKs-wHo SHOULD OWN THEM.


The question of how shall we hereafter b.
supplied with sufficient quantity of water TO
all purposes required by great city seems, a
the present time, to interest all oar i'rople, ani
we propose to say few words upon the sub
ject to the readers of the Morning. S.as-
The Commercial, Banking and Watcrworks
Company has supplied dirty water from the
river to some portions of the-city for about
thirty-fve years. This company is kind OF
co-partnership between the private stock-hold.
ers, who own thirteen thousand shares, and the
city, which owns five thousand shares; and
the company complains that it is in conse-
quence OF the immense quantity of water
wasted by the city authorities, for which the
t. company gets no pay, that has heretofore made
the supply so short and dear, and,the COM
pany propose to remedy both evils by buying
the city's part of the stock, and making the
city hereafter pay like private individuals, for
all the water used by the authorities. MANY
persons are i'll favor of the city selling out and
~ taking the amount, $500 600 to paw a norton
of the city debts Other persons, and we are
amongst the number, think that the city ought
town all the works. The subject has been dis
cussed in the city papers, and one of Them at
least, has advocated, with great ability, both
sides of the question.
No city in ancient modern times has ever
BECOME great or prosperous without proper
system OF sewerage and plentiful supply of
water. The remains of the Roman and Moorish
aqueducts bear ample testimony to the immense
amount of lahorIthat was bestowed upon the
procuring OF an ample supply of water by the
public authorities in ancient-times We know
OF no private corporation, either past pres
ent, which has succeeded in supplying a great
city like Ours with sufficient quantity of
water for all its wants, and ut such a price as
to make it accessible to ALL
This vital object for every city has, however
been accomplished by the public authorities in
all countries and in all ages. In our own we
may point ont the cities of Richmond, Phfla- |
dephia, and New York. We believe in Rich |
mont and Philadelphia the authorities own the |
gas works also.
the old Manhattan company, forty years ago, |
and the opposition that was thep made to the5
, project of superceding that company by the
corporation undertaking the introduction of
the Croton water viii have no difficulty in
making up his mind which to prefer, private
company or board of public commissioners,
with the works owned by the city.
The Croton water was introduced into New
York in the year 1S42. The revenue the first
year was $4,000. The income went on increas-
ing, and was for the year 1o49 $3.50, 900. Up to
that time only those who chose to take the
water paid for it, but in that year the Croton
water Department was created, with board
OF commissioners to control both the water
works and sewerage of the whole island, and
the law was changed with regard to the pay
stituted, which the landlord of every house has
TO pay. The result was that the income of the
department doubled in 1850, and although the
Watcr-rent has been reduced the income has
been increasing, until it had reached $SOO,OO
Inls59. Complaints have rarely never been
heard>o of the water-tax or the want of supply
OF water in New York since that date, and, in
i;a!nt of fact, the plentiful and cheap supply of
water has materially contributed to mako New
York what it is
The Times of February 23d opposes the city ,
!hMnSlng the works. The editor of "Talk on
Shange' asks, How does the city propose to
pay the interest on the bonds to be giveniD &
W e answer, from the water-rents. The expense
OF the thirteen thousand shares will be $500 600:
ne interest on this sum, at seven per cent, !
VIII amomnt to $56, 900 per annum. The tax !
able real estate of the city is, say, hundred
millions of dollars; mill tax on the amount q
will give 100000. -
But suppose the water commissioners at first
collect water-rent of two mills on the dollar |
Let us see what difference that would make to
5he consumers of water. The writer lives in
uouple house that is assessed for $1,000 He +
pays this year $50 Tor water, and his neighbor
the same Now let the city purchase the T
WaterNorks andimpose n water-tax of two n
mills which will give $500, 900 revenue per an r
num- and allow the extension of the works to :.
every part of the city, and we will have only Z
10 pay $14, in place of $40. t
we VIII not now enlarge upon the moral and i,
sanitary uses of water but we all want it every
Shere, and 80 cheap that no person, however
poor, will be prevented from having a full n
supply. Is p g un p