The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-23
The water supply and water BATES.

So much has been said recently on this subject,
and so little seems TO be known by the public gen.
orally as TO the merits of the question, that plain
statement OF facts and figures drawn from oncial
records will best enable us to arrive at Just and
fair conclusion. r--..F
In the month OF July last, the present city gov;
a,n,,.ns found fssoIr BY the operation of law and
the act Of its predecessors, in full and legal pos
session OF the water works constructed oy the old
Commercial Bank. The renrs had been collected
in advance by the old company for the whole year,
90 that the supply had to be continued at an ex-
pense of $1,000 per month, without revenue and
without supplies.
The city at once adopted the plan. long tried
and approved in other cities owning such works,
and appointed "board Of commissioners" 70
take the entire charge and administration. Had
the present city government been allowed any
discretion, 1t would certainly, in its then enlbar-
raised financial condition, have declined to
increase the city debt by the purchase OF these
works, to the extent OF one and half million OF
dollars, bearing interest 10 be met semi-annualy.
But there was no alternative and the situation was
accepted.
Coming into possession, the Board Of Commits
sioners'' promptly made the best arrangement
possible for the economical administration of the
works on very reduced scale, until its revenues
should commence, and then diligently applied
themselves to the preparation of system OF adj
ministration and schedule Of water rates for the
future. Consulting the official reports OF works
conducted on the same basis as ours-the delivery
OF water by the Intervention OF steam power
they found the expense of administration In st.
Louis about tl0e 900, in Cincinnati about $50 900
per annum-each consuming about 70 per cent.
more water than New Orleans. But the cost Of
material and labor being that much higher here
placed Us nearly on an equality with them. After
long and patient inquiry, the board organized its
administration on basis 10 cost from S55,O00 70
| $40 600 per annum.
The works were found on examination 10 great
| disrepair, requiring heavy expenditure, as the
| old company, expecting 70 sell, had for several
wears done little more thsn deliver the current
| supply OF water. The annual cost of this item
was placed ct the low figure of $40 900, with the
| intention Of limiting the expenditures to the
smallest possible amount consistent with the eli.
| cheney Of the works.
The interest TO be paid on the bonds issued by
the city for the purchase Of the works, amounting
| to s75, COO annually, not having been otherwise
provided for, had also to be met By their income.
Tho Board of Commissioners thus found II nee
| essary TO provide 81 annual revenue 70 meet the
| following items:
| Expense Of administration. ........... ZOO
Repairs, etc.. .......-..-..--......... zOUu
| Interest. .......... .....--.-.......>'. fo,ON
TOTAL. ...............-.-...ss $iOOOJu
| This, il will be seen, makes no provision for q
"sipkipg fund.- for the eventual payment OF the
| bonds, which in prudence should be estimated 81
| not less than $4,000 year. @
| The total revenue for last year was In round
| numbers s157, 600. 5000. $780,.
With these data and preliminsries they entered
| upon the subject OF
| WATER RATss. is.r1I
| Entering upon its duties the Board of Commits
sioners found no record Of any established system
| of water rates. The books of the Office showed
the charge made against each individual, and the