Telegram-herald., 1889-12-03
THE WATER WORKS.
The Report Of the Special Com
mlttse Submitted.
Statement of the Condition aud Outlook
for tbe city WorA>- Recommend
Buylng Up the hydraulic 10.


Buylng Up the Hydraulic 60.
The report of the special committee
on water submitted t0 tae council last
evening. reviews al considerable length
the history of the water works system
and the various propositions which
came before them. The committee say
We now have over sixtymiles OF mans
good pumping machinery, a good pres
sure on the high leyelsand an abundant
supply of filtered river water.
We have a plant that Is worth all II has
cost and viii De worth all u may cost 10
perfect II. Ii il can be made profitable
10 men who propose 10 buy II with per
cent. money, II ought certainly 10 be
more 80 % the city, which can obtain
ali the money II may neod at per
cent. A sale of the works, with "A
stipulated hydrant rental and price for
other uses, j. perpetual bar against
free water for public uses when the
time comes, as It surely Will, that the
works Will be self sustaining.
We have an abundant supply OF
water for 80 to95p per cent. of all the uses
we have for water that Is Just as good
as lake water. with all connections and
appliances for its use, and the only
problem remaining TO be solved l.. how
will we obtain the other or 10 per
cent. if II shall be found necessary
We do not think II necessary or pru-
dent under these circumstances 10 take
the risks attendant upon obtaining a
lake supply. Those who favor sale
may say: "Seil the works and let the
buyers take the risk" In reply we
say, 1t Is not pleasant to contemplate
the contingency of our whole water
supply being cut off by possible, not to
say probable, disaster 10 the lake end
of the system. The enormous ice banks
that pile up on the lake shore, and the
shifting sands that extend far out into
the lake, Will be "A constant menace to
the whole system.
The proposition 10 sell 10 the
Hydraulic Company We do not favor,
for the same reasons gwen IN regard to
the first offer of the Contract Company.
Mr.. Crow, in his communication TO the
council offering to buy or sell, says:
The income OF the city plant Is IN
sufficient by $50 600 10 $4,000 annual
ly, TO pay expenses and interest, and to
complete the system viii require about
another million" MT. Crow evidently
sees a good thing in being the owner Of
the city water works even under the
disadvantage he claims the city labOrs
under and with the full knowledge
that his money would cost him per
cent. while the city can obtain all IL
may need at per cent.
Right here your committee VIII try
and give a little correct information ON
the subject of the burdens imposed on
the city by It's ownership of water works.
1t must bc borne ID NINA that we are
dealing with the present and near
future, and not with the past
The city now has "a water debt Of
$50 900, maturing, $4,000 10 lsa3,
$1,000 ~ 1894, So ,00OIn lSe5, drawing
per cent. interest, and $3.50. 900 draw
ing per cont. interest foatuTnglu 1905
and 500; total debt, Sfl2, 10000; total
interest charge, 81 .0G0.00.
A.bulness. statement for the fiscal
year ending May ], 1890, based on ac-
compiishcd facts 10 date o. this report,
and close estimates Ol the Board of
Public Works for the remainder oi the
year, would read a. follows Operating
expenses and maintenance, 80. .o09.
interest one year, 80. .069 itotal So. .060.
Revenue from water rates. SIS 900. 500
hydrants. the average number for the
year. $50 each, SIS 300. water in and
around city hall, for flushing sewers.
and for parks and fountains, $1,000,
total, $4,000.
The engine houses have water AZ half
-. a 81 f.fr =
makes no charge for water connections
TO numerous factories that have intro
duccd patent automatic. .sprnkicrs for
frc protection
Attic published rates OF the Nv
drau. e. company, this tenn alone would
add Sifn 81 the annual receipts Of the
works. II wN thus b. seen that the
works arc NOW practically self-sustain-
ing. Notwithstanding the high rate 0f
interest on $4,000 of water debt
Four years hence that part of the debt
uIl he refunded as 3 T.r cent. effect
UE au lanuu4l saving 81 $4,000 and
e 3 safe 81 s3v. that nE t.Iat timr there
ulI have hrcr q cons Ierahie increase
I'D tnc earn nCs.
In tn.s connection auf as matter
that WIl interest t4e rr and ct-
1eus generally. youT un tee sl
state taat a recent analyses of fhe
vafar ilru. saea hV fhe Hydraulic Co...
aua Sat aov furnished hy tac c.tF
shows tm e. b. 50 em az ss to rr-
cite faf girrrsc oi tae chemists who
performed fle erpsrnt
Nf keEe ef tae laenraI Tahors-
tors AZ Lansing, SAYS "fHese waters
arr Sd uear.x identical u comp1s son