Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-06
THE WATER RECEIPTS
Supt. Browne Pleased With the Earn
ings of the City Works.
ARE BECOMING SELF-SUPPORTIEG,
The Committees Estimate Of Revenues
Exceeded by $4,000.
WHAT WARDS PAID IN ASSESSMENTS

Superintendent George Browne, of the
Water Bureau, said yesterday that ne was
more than pleased on reaching the end OF
the year to see that his prediction OF the
water investments of the city becoming self
supporting, is being carried out. He
thought that even with the heavy load of a
per cent bond, which the Water Bureau
had to carry, it would not be long, If the
time had not already arrived, when the
water works would become source of reve-
nue. to Pittsburg. If he said, there were
any possibility OF refunding the per cent
bonds into fours, even by paying bonus, it
would be benefit to get rid of so heavy
tax upon the Water Bureau receipts.
Controller Morrow was asked if from his
inner fiscal consciousness he could devise
any plan for refunding the water loan
bonds, but he said the idea had been mooted
four years ago without any visible chance
of success. The best proof of this he said was
to go into the market and try TO buy water
loan bonds! He would be anxious to get
some for the city if it could be done. The
value of the bonds was certainly very high,
as was evident to all, and the manner in
which they were held was sufficient proof
As for the self-supporting feature of the
water works he was not quite sure, but pro-
dueed some figures which made it plain that
the income came very near the high water
mark of financial success. With two months
receipts vet to come in the income is less
than $50, 900 short of the actual expenses, in
cluding interest,
THE WATER REVENUES.
The receipts were as follows: Water rents
for 1889, S4S9, 900; for 1888, through the De-
linquent Tax Collectors Office, $T6, 900, and
for 1887, 2,7O0; total water rents to Decem-
Der l, 1889, S5O7, 200; from new buildings,
s., 500; ferules, s., 600; showing the total in
crease Of the water bureau up to December
to have been S516, 800. In addition to this,
Mr.. Phelps, Chief Clerk in the Controllers
Office, suggests that the interest upon invest
ments in the water loan sinking fund should
be included, which would amount to about
$40, 900.
The expenses are estimated as follows !:
The appropriation of 1889 for running ex-
penses is $198, 715; bureau of water assess
ments, 81, 500; pipe extensions, consisting
principally of the large distributing main
which is an expense peculiar to the present
wear. SIS, 900. This makes the actual rum
ming expenses for the year S28l, ,215, to
which must be added 500, 900 sinking iund.
The interest upon the water bonds amounts
to S4, ,2S2, 500 at per cent, making S299, 10,
and $500, 600 at per cent, or $4,000, being
total interest OF S317, ,775, or a total ex-
pense of S69S, $780, The expenditures thus
show an excess over the income of SIS, 100.
NOT A BAD SHOWING.
The Finance Committees estimate Of re-
eeipts from the Water Assessment Bureau,
although thought high at the time, is ex-
ceeded bv the receipts some $75, 900.
When the assessments of the Water Bu-
reau were published last June, showing the
assessments by wards of the entire city. the
total amount was $557 ,430 25 In July
some new buildings and others that had
been accidentally omitted from the June as
sessment were added, increasing the total to
S557, ,S51 25.
On the 1st of October Assessor Miller and
bis assistant began on what they term sup
Elementary assessment, taking in all new
houses not assessed in June or July, all
houses that were supplied with water by the
extension of the city's water pipes, and all
houses that had not consumed water before,
but had made connections after the June as
sessment. The result of this assessment was
to add So, 115 35 to the total, making $685.
966 CO. The following shows how much was
contributed by each ward by the supple
mentary assessment:
First ward, SSJ7; Second ward, $40 so; Third
ward, 81 2Sl 50 Fourth ward, S252; Fifth, $50 20
Sixth, 1884 so; Seventh, S74 so: Eighth S45 %;
Ninth, SlO3 %; Tenth, $l26 so; Eleventh,
$3.50 25; Twelfth, Sl69 81 Thirteenth, $40 so;
Fourteenth, S756 25; Fifteenth, Sl65 70; Six
teenth, $500; Seventeenth, $4l6; Eighteenth,
$3.50; Nineteenth, Ssh 30: Twentieth. s6f5 so;
Twenty-irst, $3.50: Twenty-seeond, Sl96;
Twenty-third, Sl5S rs.
In addition to the regular water rents it is
expected that receipts to the Water Assess
ments Bureau from construction tax will
amount to at least s., 900. This tax is levied
at the rate OF 8 cents per perch for stone
work, 10 cents per 900 for brick work, 30
cents per 100 square yards for plastering
and 12 cents per 100 square yards ior
cement flooring on all new buildings
erected within the first % wards of the city.
This amount added to the regular water
rents will make a total of S574, ,966 go and
may reach the even $575, 900.