The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-08-09
THE WATER SUPPLY QUESTION.

Attnelr meeung on last pAtufuhy evening
the city council resolved 10 offer to the water
works company the sum of SEQ 900 for their
works, rights, privileges, otc. rhis offer has
been rejected by accompany, they insisting
on 100000 as fair figure. Mayor Crowdus
stated in bis recent report that water works
system could be constructed for this city
for the price of Sl25,0O0. Assuming that,
by the time II should be completed for oper-
alton. lot US see what, if any, saving would
result to tho city. We presume the city
bonds therefor could be placed al six pei
cent per annum for the amount, this would
require some $500 interest outlay. The
expense account Of the existing company is
some $4,000 per annum, that of a city
corporation might be- more, it usually is,
but the compsny's income is
some SIS, 900 per annum, aud assuming that
tue city supply department would DIVIDE all
private business with the present company,
and there would remain an income which
would, let US say, just about offset the expen-
ses rs aforesaid. Thus hen we have the
cost OF the works to the city just the amount
ofthe interest paid on the bonds, viz; 81 5Co
This year the company propose TO rent to
the city the water for the fire plugs, 65 in
number, the city hall, The engine houses, the
pound, and for fire or confagraiion purposes
for the sum of So 400. This makes al annua
saving to the city of some $500, which, il
ten years, counting the interest, would make
considerable payment on works for The
city. There is another light in which Chi!
business of the city owning competitive
works is to be considered. There is and mus
DO for some time in the future only enough
business for one water works company il
Dallas. Two, in view of this, would be {
calamity to the city and the existing COM
pany. If the council should determine L
construct, surely tho water works company
would not stand idly by and see their bust
mess and capital crushed 10 the wall. A
fight would necessarily ensue, and we appre
bend that rs fnality in tho shifting scenes
and changes of municipal life, the
poor city would show up as the
plucked goose. Tho present corporations
having the start, the experience, the skilled,
economical management, would probably,
yea almost certainly, crush out the more
cumbersome concern run Officially" In a
contes. it would doubtless increase its cash
capital, build more and greater convenienCes
and then offer tosupply consumers at rates
ranging any where from % per cent.to so per
cent below those now taxed. Should the
city go down in the conflict there is no tell
ing what the successful contestant might
manifest OF human nature, supposed to have
been injured. Indeed two water supply
companies in our young city are not 10 be
thought Of, and tho present unhappy and un-
necessary water, as we'll rs gas, imbroglio Is
sincerely to be deplored. Among tho rsa-
sons tor this, is that tho people are
suffering from want of adequate
water supply, from danger of conaagrations,
from increased insurance rates that must
necessarily DO imposed by companies and
agents which for the appearance of imparti-
atty have thus far kept hands OIL, but which
must soon act, as one Of the largest repreaen-
tatives of the companies informed us few
days ago. Besides, an antagonism is grow
lug up In The bosoms Of some of our very
best citizens and leading NOR
chants and their friends. These are gentle-
men who have made those investments no!
desired by them, as they could always Ian.
lie to better, far better, advantage in their
'wn Immediate businesses, under their own |
immediate supervision, bu! made thom, ex-
'ended their money, their time, their labor,
o procure, in spirit of laudablo pride,
eeded institutions for a growing place un-
bio at the time, of itself, to have
hem. There are now new enterprises
n foot with us of highest concern to overy
roperty owner and merchant in Dallas
'orth thousands, yes hundreds of thousands
{ dollars to us all; surely those gentlemen,
heir friends, nor indeed others can be made
, feel like drinking deeper Of tho wells of
atriotism and sacrifice for other things that
lay prove as disastrous 10 them, Certainly
lese are some considerations worthy to be
'ken into account in adjusting accounts
18th them. We have no, a single cent of
.ock nor any interest in tho welfare or tho
owniall Of the water or OF Tho gas COM
any, but we are solci,ous 10 500 full justice
one to the citizens in all contracts made for
,eir account byiho council, and precisely
no same justice extended 10 the other par.
es. We would scorn any bargain, enforced
r even freely made, no matter how much
40 city, or ourselves even, were benefited,
1t were made or resulted in the wrongful