The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-10-16
WATER WORKS.
Communicated

lOOHlIEEHlCdlcul
AS the matter of procuring a suf-
ficlent supply of wholesome water for
this city is engrossing large part OF
the public attention, the writer offers
a few reasons why, in his judgment,
it would be best for the city to own
and operate its own water works:
From the standpoint of economy it
would be best, for, to illustrate:
First-The city pays the water COM
pany an annual water rent of about
S11, 600 to be increased upon supplying
the additional hydrant, now impera-
lively required, to $4,000.
Second-Thc city water company is
under its contract exempted from mu-
Medal taxation, whereby the city re-
mits to the company-or, in other
words, pays to tan increased charge
of at least $1,000 per year.
Third-The water company derives
an annual rental from the various
public institutions located in and
about Austin of $1,000.
Fourth-The water company re-
ceives from private water takers at
least $4,000 Per year.
Fifth-The water company derives
a profit from its plumbing department,
the exact amount of which is not
known to the writer. 1t is hoped and
believed that it is large.
The aggregate annual income to the
water company (and the aggregate
outcome to our citiZens) from the
above sources of revenue, is $5l,OOO,
exclusive of the income from the
plumbing department.
Now let us see what would be the
outlay and where it would go if the
city owned and operated Its own water
works.
Let this city establish a system Of
water. works adequate for its present
and future demands, up to the size of
a community of say $4,000 inhabitants.
Such a system could b9 built for not
more than 100000. To acquire this
fund it would be necessary for the city
to issue its ten-tWenty per cent.
bonds for the sum Of 100000.
To discharge such debt with its an
nuallY accruing interest the city would
need to levy an annual tax OF
First-SiX per cent of the amount
of the bonds issued or $12,OO per an
mum, just the amount we now levy
| upon ourselves and pay as aiclty to the
water company to discharge the inter-
est they owe upon their bonds.
Second-The city would need to
levy an annual tax of per cent or
$4,000 upon the amount of these
bonds for sinking fund, and as the
sinking fund could as it accumulated
be itself invested, the average tax thus
levied would not exceed, say 315 per
cent, or, say $1,000 per annum.
Add - this interest and sinking
fund together and we have an aggre-
gate outlay against the city of &c.,
600, just 5000 more annually than We
pay as city tax to the water compa-
ny.
Now how shall we overcome this
difference against the city? Why.
apply to its extinguishment these
$1,000 to be received annually from
the public institutions at the capital
and we have the difference overcome
and surplus of $1,000, to be appro-
priated to the expense of OPP
Grating the water works, and
to this surplus add the pres
ent revenue from private water ia.
ken $4,000, and we have a surplus of
1000, exclusive of the income from
the plumbing department, to be ap-
piled solely to the expense of operat-
ing the water works, sum very much
in excess of what is doubtless required
for the purpose.
If the above figures are reliable (and
they are believed to be excessive
! both as to the rate of interest
on bonds should bear, and in the cost
of constructing the works., it is appa-
rent that we could own and operate
works of our own for less money than
we actually pay out for the use OF
works that are not our own, but the
property of others.
From the stand point oil
efficiency, works owned and
operated by the city would give more
satisfaction than system operated
by any private corporation, and why
Simply because the pride and policy
of the city, and that of every indi.
vidual in it, would be to cheaper the
supply of good water to It's least posi-
BILE minimum, and when the bonds
were paid that minimum would
be so inconSiderable as not to he re-
garded as burden by even the poor
est of our people.
If these things are so ought not the
city, even if we had the best present
water system in the state, to acquire
that system if it could be bought at g
reasonable price, and if not to build
another? We think so, undoubtedly
Should. however, the city determine
to acquire v orks of its own this
should only ie done with full an6
liberal recogn ION of the rights Of
the present company. Buy those
works at a fair, a liberal price if pos
| sible. if not then build indeDendent
works of our own.
Should the city actually acquire al
ownership of its water works it is
probable that the rule of limiting the
cost of maintaining the works to those
who may enjoy its benefits would be
adapted here, as is done in other cities
similarly situated. w.
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