Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-01-24

absorbing one of public attention during
the past two wee xs. is the proposed sale
by the city of the water works plant.
franchise, etc and interest-not to say
snxiety-in the matter has risen to such
state that the public talks of little else
and the salutation what do you think of
the water works question:" has almost
entirely superseded ''snice day" Desir.
Gus of obtaining and presenting an un>
biased expression of sentiment on this
subject, an ARGUS reporter jotted down
the appended opinions. some of which
we're made in casual conversation, while
Others were obtained in response to for>
NAL solicitation Of views:
Judge l. O. Wilkinson-I have been
looking into this matter little and am
decidedly of the opinion that the city
ought not TO sell it. In the first place, it
is by no means clear that the city has the
power to sell the waterworks. A city has
not the same power that an individual
possessor has &c buy and sell property
The city has The charter power to
acquire and hold such real estate
as may be necessary for corporate pur-
poses, and that this power confers the
power to sell at pleasure any of the prop
erty belonging to it, might well be doubt
ed If it can, the city council may sell
all that the city possesses, and the next
city council buy again. and their success,
sors again sell and so on without limit
which L think was not contemplated by
| the provisions o. the charter. Nor do
think it is policy for the city to sell. The
manner in which the works was acquired
furnishes for itself a reason against dis
posing OF them. The cost of re locating
the waterworks. was borne to the extent
of S25, 900 by Mr.. Cable. This contri-
button WAS TO the city, to enable it to
furnish u better supply of water to its
citizens. and would probably never have
been made if the donor had supposed 1t
was TO go into the hands of third parties.
There are numerous reasons of public
| nature. why the city should furnish the
water to its citizens, instead of subject
ing them to the control of private parties
for their water supply. 1t is complained
of by some that the works are not prop
LhduaSSu, put IL NIoS "CIC liuCp IL
would furnish no reason for selling them,
but would suggest simply a change of
management. No reason occurs to. me,
why the city can not manage them as
we'll as private parties. Under the city
| management, they have been u
source of revenue, and that revenue
could be easily increased without in
justice TO the consumers. The water
works cost the city more than they ought
| to have done because the pipes had TO be
| reclaim; that cost amounted to 1926, 260,
which was char ged to and has been paid,
| or nearly so, out of the general revenues
of the city. TIE city now owes only
$50, 900 on water works bonds, one half
of which will not be due until 1892 and
the other half in 1902. and these bonds
cannot be paid until they are due. Tue
city has already derived a revenue from
| the water works to the amount of 1891
375. Estimating the value of the water
works at what they cost. which is fair,
the only question now is, whether they
can be operated by the city without loss.
In the seventeen years for which the
| works have existed, the receipts have ex-
| ceeded the expenses 1874, 3l5, the larger
part of the expenditures have been for
| interest to the amount of $145 ESQ. an
| item which will be small hereafter as in =
terest on only $4,000 has to be paid .
The estimated expense of the water works
| for 1888 Is s., 900 and its revenues SOL
| 500. which shows handsome margin of
| profit and which / think Is capable OF
being doubled.
John Notwithstanding the city
| can get whaL the works are worth, /
should most certainly favor their sale,
but there should be some definite under
| standing as to future rates. | think the
| sale would be wise move because, ex-
| perienced men would be in charge and
| the machinery protected, whereas, now il
is run according to politics aud there is
not so much attention paid to the
fitness of the man for the task
of running il, as of his political
station and influence. Therefore the
| machinery is in great danger of being
| abused. and after awhile the city will be
obliged to put up new works. l believe
| under certain conditions the city ought
to get the works off it's hands.
Maj. II. G. Connelly-I am in favor of
the sale, on condition that a good price
can be had. and with the provision strct>
| ly understood that the city is to have free
use of water for fire hydrant purposes for
| all time, and 10 matter how much of a
growth is attained. Then there should be
care taken to protect the general con-
sumers from extortion and imposition.
These provisions made, should like to
| see the works sold. and the proceeds ap-
| piled to the wiping out of the city debt.
| no Cd 70 u l..
city to have it wholly out of debt and to
be able to keep it so.
| DR.. J. W. Stewart-The works should
not be sold Ny reasons are that l don t
think it is the proper disposition Of ali
enterprise that has been in such large
part donated l don't think the CITY
should place the rates of water beyond its
own control; furthermore, | understand the
works are just beginning to pay. and for
that reason alone | think they should be
kept. Another thing, and that is, the
bonds will not mature for some years vet,
and therefore would be of no immediate
use to the city.
A. G. Dart--I think the sale would be
one of the most imprudent and unwise
things the council could do. 1t is the
franchise that look upon as more valu
able than the works or anything else con
nected with them. And as the city
grows the franchise will increase in value
and the city will realize the more the ad.
vantage and value it is TO possess it.
In my opinion the last thing the city
should do. would be to dispose of the
water works.
| VIM. Jackson-I am inclined to think
that the works could be run al
profitable. l. not more profitable
to the people of this city in the
hands of privat individuals or corpora
tions. The efficiency and economy Of the
| city cnvernm ant is not furthered by in.