Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1891-11-18
WATER COMPETITION.
The City Council Declines to Modest the
Franchise and Water Develop
ment will Proceed.
4 Good Thing for the City as Viewed
From Business Stand point
Facts and Figures.

Santa Fe has arraigned itself on the
side of modern progress in very unmis-
taxable manner. The city council has
refused to reopen the new water works
franchise, and it stands as originally
granted. In so doing there is no question
but that majority of the council fully
and faithfully represents the sentiment OF
the tax payers of the community. Some
effort was made last night to have the
franchise tempered with; half dozen or
80 of citizens were on hand for this pur-
pose, but their efforts were fruitless. And
it is well that they were. 1t would have
been great loss to the city, not to say a
shame and disgrace, to have molested
that franchise.
When considered carefully and without
prejudice there is really very little in it as
far as rests any burden upon the city or
its tax payers, but for the promoters of
the enterprise it is worth great deal from
the simple standpoint OF moral support
for home institution.
What does the paltry sum of $4,000 a
year III this community amount to If it
brings competition in water development
and frees the water consumers from the
very idea of paying tribute to mononoly
that distributes but a few hundred dollars
here and takes out thousands every year
and steadily refuses to concede one iota
to popular clamor for better quality and
quantity of water? Two thousand dollars
year for supplying forty fire MIGRANTS is
a remarkably good business investment
for the city Albuquerque pays $4,000 a
year for the same service. But outside
of this, in view of the benefits to accrue
to tax payers and property owners, and
the probability of locating 1900 fruit
farmers on the adjacent valley lands, the
city might welLatiorded to have granted
an out-and- out cash bonus to this irriga-
ton company for establishing its plant
here. 1t is worth something to have
$3.50, 900 distributed among our laboring
men.
The orchards and gardens OF Santa Fe
bring in and distribute here now $780,
900 per annum. Take man who owns
two acres in fruits at present his water
costs him from $50 to $75 per year. This
! is practical extortion; were it not for the
superior quality of our products and their
high price in a market not to be supplied
from any other point, the producers of
Santa Fe could not hold out long under
this heavy water tax. Now let us figure
that by permitting water competition the
action of the city council cuts down this
tax on citizens about two thirds-isn't
that q highly important saving to the
people? Such saving means that the
ordinary state, county and city taxes can
be paid a great deal easier in future than
in the past, for the saving in water tolls
will place dollars in the pockets of pro-
ducers where they now haven't nickels.
It is worth something to the city council
to feel that such possibilities are brought
about by their timely action. Those who
supported the measure favoring water
competition can rest content that they
have done their full duty by their constit-
uents and by themselves.
Again, it can be even now very clearly
demonstrated that the formation of this
new water company has proved advan-
tageous to the city in this: Three months
ago the old water company demanded
$50 per year Tor supplying each OF the
twenty-five fire-plugs; now they are
willing to render the service for $65-or
SIS more than the new water company
will do it for one year hence. Thus by
the Inauguration of the new enterprise
the tax PAYERS will SEIZURE fire protection
for the coming year 81 500 cheaper Than
they would have done had not this
cam pptinp cOmpaDy entered uDOn the
scene of action. This is what competi-
ton does.
In conclusion, also, let it be understood
clearly that the franchise granted the
new company is not exclusive" the
council has power to grant franchises to
other water companies should they ask
for them. and thus has it in its power to
continue the good work of encouraging
competition in the interest of all water
consumers.