Morris tribune., 1891-09-09
Mccarthy on Water Works.

~ing-<he-wsteAworks ordinance, state
ments We're made that should be ex-
planned or refuted; but not supposing
that any person would so beyond the
bounds of courtesy, unfortunately l
did not attend the meeting with au-
thorities to back up explanations or
contradict statements that would GER
tainly attempted to make, had / au-
thorities with me to back up my state
ments.
shall first take up the question OF
savings by way of insurance, which q
gentleman undertook to contradict
my statements, styling my statements
mere bosh and preposterous, repre-
senting himself as an experienced TN
derwriter of Il think he said twenty
five years standing) A gentleman OF
any such experience should have some
idea of what he was saying, and com
mon decency demands that he should
not make assertions that he cannot
prove by authorities, as such state
ments are calculated to mislead aad
deceive an honest public who are seek
ing correct and reliable information.
l desire to enlarge ON my remarks
made at the meeting Saturday even
ing, and to prove my assertions by au-
thority.
The National Board of Fire Under
writer's have established basis rate
for insurance purposes on different
classes of buildings. Buildings are
classified as follows: "A, "A l, "B-
c" and ID" (See page IS, Tiffany's
Instruction Book for Fire Insurance
Agents. The brick buildings in this
village are rated III the BIC" class.
On page 81 of the same book we find
the basis rate on buildings of the "A
class as follows: I'm towns or cities of
5000 population or less, with no fire
department, the basis rate should be
IS conts. In similar places, having
but limited ire department and water
supply, the basis should be so cents.
In cities of 5000 to $4,000 population,
with good fire department and water
supply, so cents. In cities of 1900
to 10000 population, with good fire
department and water works, 40 cents.
In cities of 10000 and upwards, 80
cents"
On page 80 of the same work, we
find the basis rates on brick and stone
buildings of the different classes for
towns and cities of the present condi-
ton of Morris as follows: "Class A
IS cents, class B S1.OO, class BIC $1.OO,
class G. S1.25."
By comparing the rates last quoted
for class "A" buildings, with rates in
towns and cities having good fire de-
partments and water supply, we find
a reduction in favor of water works
towns of 25 cents to 35 cts, or 33aa per
cent to 50 per cent. We thus have
reduction of rates for different classes
of buildings, in favor of water works
towns, (using the lowest rate of per-
centage to compete by) as follows:
Glass A, so cents; Glass B, 81 cents;
class BIC, 73 cents; elias G, SO cents.
The rates given are for 500 of in
surance for one year, thus clearly
demonstrating wherein a saving of
one-third in the one item of fire insur-
ance alone. | have not the official
figures to show the amount of premi
ums paid annually for insurance in
Morris, but different persons have
put the estimate at from $1,000 to
$4,000 per year, and yet the people
have not near the protection they
would have by ample supply of water; !;
using the lowest estimate as the prob
able amount, we thus have a saving
of $1,000 per annum in one item alone.
So far [ have not mentioned wheth-
er it is most desirable to operate a
plant by the village or private indi-
viduals.
[ will now refer to that section of
the ordinance limiting the rate of tax
alton not to exceed mills on the dol
lar of the assessed valuation. Such
provision by no means intimates that
any such levy will ever be required.
I am quite satisfied that levy of 4
mills will cover the amount required
to pay hydrant rentals.
Taking the assessment of 1890,
1884, ,74O, a levy of 4 mills will amount
to 81, 1886; levy of 6 mills will
amount to S2,O28.44, thus quite clearly
demonstrating saving to the people
of the village in the item of insurance
alone of from 81 900 to ST. 300 year,
besides the extra protection the peo-
pie will have to promptly overcome
fires. This is not the OILY saving the
people will have by water works.
Take for an instance the tremend-
GUS tax that more than three-fourths
of the people have to pay for having
water drawn from the river every day
at 25 cents a barrel. Suppose, for il
lustration, that small family can get
along by being extremely economical
with two barrels per week. This
would be an annual tax alone of $26
per year; or for say two hundred fam
lilies, would amount to the magnifi-
cient sum of S., 200 per year.