Morning journal and courier., 1881-11-05
COMMUNICATIONS.
An Illustration.

To the Editor of the JOURNAL COURIER:
 The Board of Public Works in their esti- mate of city expenses for the coming year give us as one item an estimate of thirty six thousand dollars to be paid on account of East Rock Park
 Now the charter says expressly: Said Court of Common Council shall have power to appropriate no more than sig thous0nd doL Zars per annUna f0r tue purposes cf said 3ark. :" Probably there is some ingenious way in which the authorities of the city can justify themselves in spending thirty six thousand dollars year on the park. It may be all right and lawful for them to do SO but the fact that they propose to do so shows how easy it is for the city to get itself involved in great and unexpected expense when it opens the door for such expense by undertaking any new enterprise whatever.
 If the city can lawfully spend thirty six thousand dollars on the park this year, why not 8 hundred thousand next year? And if the park, which we were told would cost us not over six thousand dollars year, is now actually to cost us thirty-six thousand this year, notwithstanding the express prohibi ton of the charter, is it not reasonable to fear that the waterworks which are to cost the city, as we are told, only million or two, will cost us good many millions before we get through with them if we allow our I SG1N0S LO Iu6ul110 WILL bASHI
 We can stand multiplication by six in the annual expense of the park, because we are multiplying thousands and not millions ]; but when we get among big figures, as in the case of the ssatsxweEks, multiplication by six or by any other figure becomes serious matter.
 The only safe course for the city in refer ence ts this water project is to knock it on the head. CITIZEN.
 
 Reasons for Voting Against the Pur-
 chase.
 To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
 In paper handed me on Chapel street bearing the names of several gentlemen, be- ginning with the chairman of the investiga- ting committee on the water purchase, is & recapitulation of what that gentleman thinks on the subject. The gentlemen seem to think that by looking through his glasses they have found the philosophical stone. He seems to think that the annual increase of income from consumers would be sufficient to do all the extensions and improvements necessary. Let us look at what others have done and suffered. The city of New York commenced it's waterworks about forty or more years ago, and, according to the theory of this gentleman, should be to-day free of all debt and contributing largely to the city treasury. The New York Heaatd of the 3oth of October says: ssWe are utterly helpless, and every hour, unless nature shall come to our assistance is bringing us nearer and nearer to almost the greatest calamity, short of absolute destruction, that could possibly befall us. % If the city had been governed wisely and well the emergency in which we find ourselves never could have arisen" Their water department has been always under city management, with vast re- sources and a largely increased and wealthy population to draw on. At this date, with many million dollars water debt, they find them selves in the above pitiable condition and ob- liged to cut off water supply and have maga- zines of gunpowder, etc., to blow up DOT tions of their city in the event of a fire and water supply failing them. Let us not place ourselves in the chance of a like calamity. Any reasonable person can comprehend that if private corporation had the management of water supply for such city they would long ere this have had large reservoirs to supply surplus water for just such an emergency. Our Water company years ago purchased very many water rights for the future needs of this city. This fact the committee treat nearly as crime. And the company are now ready to extend a branch of their works to take water from Lake 'Saltonstall." To con- struct an engine, pumps, and house would cost at present over $1OO, 900; then reservoirs GhO AAoAAio%O 'tS S4"J1 relaying old pipe. The pipe on Chapel street is great deal too small for the present wants of that section. All these items cost large sums of money. They cannot be compre- hended by theorists, and seem to be entirely overlooked by those who are trying to run us in debt and increase our taxes. If the city buy, we must pay the cost of construc- tion and half as much more. with an addi- tional outlay of half . million dollars for necessary extensions; cost of management, S60, 900, interest about $8S,O00, with cash receipts at $120, ,0OO, would bring us short about BPS, ,oOo, to be met by taxes or higher water rates. And remember there is no greater monopoly than government. It al lows no competition. The company guar antee us no higher water rates, and to sell their works at any time we may want to buy And here let me remark, should we purchase now our action is irrevocable. We cannot recall our votes, whereas if we vote against the purchase we can, at any time that we may see the necessity for it, buy out the compa- nv. Some years ago the city fathers of stElizabeth City, N. J., issued bonds to the full value of all taxable property. All who can leave that place do so, and no one buys property or goes there to live. Do not for get the bonds we already have. These must be paid as well as the interest which we now pay. Therefore let well enough alone, and vote against the purchase.