Great Falls tribune., 1888-12-29


not put in the whole of the five plugs
now and without mains; it would be
so much cheaper? Now taxpayers"
good authority has informed him that the
proposed works will not cost more than
$4,000 to $25,OO0
THE COST OF TRENCHES.
Now there are quite number of men
in this city who understand earthwork.
| should like very much to see or hear
from any one of them who will dig 32,-
800 feet of trenches six feet deep and
wide enough for men to work in laying
pipe; to keep crossings in safe conditi-
tion and be responsible for any accident
which may happen while trenches are
open, and when the pipes are laid, fill up
the trenches and tamp all of the dirt in
firmly and solidly as he would be requir-
ed to by the city--all this to include dig
ging through rock as we'll as sand or
gumbo, for $4,000? Again should like
to hear from any firm who will furnish
the 32,500 feet of pipe of the different
sizes, the proposed plans call fer; two
5O-horse- power boilers, two compound
duplex pumps with condenser-each to
have capacity of 1,250,0O0 gallons per
day; go hydrants, together with suction
pipe three hundred feet long, and all
needful valves, valve caseings and all
necessary fittings for another 100000?
This is exclusive of laying mains, setting
hydrants, putting up a brick or stone
engine and boiler house with brick chin
ney, and coal shed, setting machinery
and laying suction pipe out into the river
and properly protecting it from ice,
floating trees, ETC., all of which would
cost another $4,000. Now to lay
mile and a half of pipe and put on Is
more hydrants yearly would cost about
$4,000 a year and if the city grows as
every one hopes and expects it will, it
will take at least this muUh rxtension
each year.
THE QUESTION OF REVENUE.
Now then as to the revenue from this
plant to pay running expenses and extend
mains. We will take it for granted that
the interest on the investment is paid for
fire protection. Then the annual expense
for running will be about as follows,
should the city own the works:
Day engineer, $3.50 day, per
Night engineer, $3.50 day,
per year. ................... l,S6I 5O
Superintendent per year: r:.... 1900 90
Asst. Supt., for bookkeeping,
collector, ETC., per year. ...... 1000 90
Pipe man to repair Hydrants,
pipes, ect., per year ........ 90O w
s65 days ' e,19o 90
Oil. lights. waste, etc $50 90
Total. al............. $S,375 90
As may be seen this makes total of
$9,375 aside from taxes or insurance.
Now there are at present little less than
1896 houses in the city, including every
dwelling, store. saloon, hotel, barn, or
shack of two rooms. If 75 per cent of all
of these take water the first year, each
one would have to pay on an average
$35.21 per annum to meet the expenses.
Now, according to the proposed schedule
of prices for water, the largest sized
dwelling only pays $1.25 month or $15
per annum. The plant is not likely to
pay much of dividend the first few
years, at these rates. AS for the town
being very compact it does not look
much like it when it takes six mile OF
mains to supply 1000 people, while
Helena supplies 10000 people with about
fourteen mile of mans.
"Tax Payer" says should the people
own its own plant, "We could letth peo-
tbo nf rrip ri n u II
to their doors, and the margin which we
will save in the difference between inter
est on our bonds and that of rents, as
shown by the above schedule will create
a sinking fund, which in few years
would take up our bonds and in less than
six years we would own our own works.
He may figure it out that way; cannol.
In regard to sewerage, "Tax Payer is all
right in saying We will need it as badly in
year or two as we need waterworks
now, but the question is if we are bonded
to our limit for waterworks what are we
going to do about it? Sewerage is some
thing that when once started in city
like this will have to be extended just
about as fast as it can be paid for. AS
for the water for flushing sewers, this is
always free in any city where hydrants
are taken for fire protectloQ ana would
be supplied.
WHAT OTHER TOWNS PAY.
The city council should certainly try
and get their fire protection as cheaply as
possible. All they have to go by is what
other cities pay for it in Montana. Hell
ena, Bozeman, Pierre, Fort Benton, Bill
ings and other cities older than this pay
500 each for certain number of hy-
drants and none of them seem to be
bankrupt from the effects of 1t. II "Iax
Payer" will take the trouble to look into
the matter he will find that in over seven
tenths of the cities in the United States
that have less than $4,000 people, the wa
terworks are owned by private companies.
Why is this? Simply because private,
company can run the plant great deal
cheaper than small city can that is is
growing up fast and has SO many other
improvements to look after. If the city
! - Graat Falls nuts in a WaterwOrkS'