The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-11-02

two-thifds Tue Insurance chat those
who have no such conveniences pay.
In our city We pay out annually not
less than $4,000 for insurance, and
one.third of this saved annually wo'd
in 20 years amount to 100000; a
sum sufficient TO pay for water
works, principal and interest, and at
the end Of 20 years have surplus
remaining.
And again, il the city should build
and own these works, all the reven-
ues arising from water rents would
SO to liquidate the expenses Of run
ming and building themy and those
who are posted in the matter, inform
us that this alone ought at least to
pay the principal Of the debt, if not
not the interest also. Here, again,
we are met with tho objection "but
how do you know that the people
will take water, and that it will not
be a source of continual expense and
taxation to the city p Let r,s ask
these gentlemen, how did the Gas
Co. know that they could get any
body to take gas2 They went to
work, less than year ago, and ex.
pended $50, 900 or $4,000 on a ven.
ture not knowing they would have
single consumer, and to-day there
are near 400 consumers of gas, con-
Stunning 200, feet monthly, in our
city, and hundreds more would take
it, were the mains laid so that they
could have it. If we had water
works here that would supply fam
lilies, the year round, with good, pure
water, in every room in the house,
al a cost Of from 81 to IS per year,
according to size of house and the
quantity used, there would be no
trouble in finding consumers; the
great trouble, we opine, would be to
reach consumers as fast as they wo'd
| apply for a supply of water. Empty
cisterns and muddy we!l-water, then,
would be thing of the past, and .
man who would talk to you of re-
turn to the old way, would be set
down as averitable Rip Van Wrinkle,
indeed.
There are private parties who
stand ready, in consideration OF q
bonus Of $40, 900 or $25, 900, to build
and operate water works here. These
gentlemen are thoroughly posted ss
to the details and working of sys-
tenn of water works; and really it
looks to us that if private individuals
could make it profitable to build and
operate them, it would be equally as
much SO for us, the people, to own
and work them in corporate capac.
ity.
Should We permit these water
works to 60 into tho hands Of pri
yate parties, we should be entirely
at their mercy as to water IA g,
whereas, if we build them ourselves,
the people, or their Representative )
elect, will regulate this matter. We
want no monopolists to obtain con-
troll of them, who will charge the
city alone sum sufficient for the
use of water, to pay for all the cost
of works, as some cities are doing.
For instance, Des Moines pays
$4,000 per mile for the first miles
OF main, and $500 for second 5 miles
of main, annually, tor 4U years, which
alone would build and equip the whole
works. We want no such one sided
bargain as this.
There are great many advantages
and conveniences to be derived from
a good supply of water that we can
not now undertake to enumerate or
dwell upon. All we shall say further
upon the subject is that we have fall
faith in the future growth and pros
perity of our city, provided a libers
policy is pursued in public improve,
ments; that,wo have every reason to
believe that our City Council win be
guided in their elaboration and
action on this question in tho manner
best for tho true interest Of our city !,
that we have the ability, if our finan-
ces are prudently managed, to erect
and maintain a good system Of Water
Works, and that wo ought to have
them. Having thus freely expressed
our views, we OF course shall not fall
out with our neighbors If they think
and vote TO the contrary but we
ask each and every one of you to
give this important question your
serious and thoughtful consideration
before you vote "against issuing
| bonds"