The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-07-22
TALKED OF At CITY HALL.
The City Of Providence Pays a Large
Bill for Water Every Year.
ITS SERVICE is F-SUPPORTING,
However, and There II Handsome
Profit Paid Over to the sinking Fund
Ihe License Commissioners Have Not
Organized Yet-Fire Commission.

Last year the city paid bill for wa er
OF something over $4,000, the larges' oil
any of the thousands OF water consum-
ers. This is not as large rs IL
was in preceding years, and
the bill for the present year will be som.a
what smaller 1t has been decreasing
since the rate for water service was low
cred. the city being benefited as well as
the consumer by the reduction.
The water works OF Providence are
self sustaining. Moreover, from the
earnings considerable amount is paid
in every year to the sinking fund. This
would not be the case IL the city didn't
olher users do. Under those circums, ,ances
the water works would not be self sus-
tanning, and instead OF having surplus
TO be carried over TO the sinking funu
here would be a deficit To make up
for which special appropriation would
have To To made.
A. City Auditor Nisbet said today. 1t
Is all a matter of book keeping, but IT Is
the best system to be followed. By
IL not only Is the water service made
self-sustaining, bnt the sinking fund
is increased. 1t may be said that II Is
ouly taking money out OF one pocket 10
at first glance. Had any other
system been followed the city council
every year would be called on to make
up "a shortage while there would be
nothing TO 20 TO the sinking rund.
Not So Large n Debt.
Speaking of the matter this morning a
member OF the city government said a
great many people seemed to think this
city was overburdened with debt and
appearances certainly indicate that II is.
The total debt is in round numbers a lit
tie over $ll 100000 That is pretty high,
but then there il something 70 be taken
into consideration.
Nearly 81, ,00O. 900 Of this debt has been
incuired in establishing the water works
servics. That service is now selfsus.
tanning; Further it. could be .old
at the full amount of its cost. There
fore. said the official quoted. that seven
millions Is not really a debt, because 1T
takes care OF itself.
Subtracting that from the total debt IL
is found that the actual debt which the
city has incurred for various other
public improvements is only about
doesn't look SO burdensome as eleven
millions. But how many people ever
look at the matter In this light. They
simply see that the figures indicate an
Indebtedness OF eleven millions but
do not stop to think that more
the interest on all loans and makes q
handsome nrofit be ,ides, but IL does.
This Is one OF the advantages OF a correcj
system aad municipal bookkeeping.
Not Organized Yet.
1t was learned this morning that Mr..
Charles Edward Paine, who heads tn Q
list of newly elected license commission
ers. had returned from his visit to the
Worlds fair.
He was not at his Office when News
representative called there. nor was he
at the Office OF the commissioners in the
city hall.
Mr. Burnham was seen and said the
commissioners had not yet met for organ
| ization aud he could not tell
when they would do so. Mr.. Studley
also could give no definite in
gauization would take place. He did
not believe, however. it would be today.
although it would undoubtedly be in a
| short tine.
1t seems that Mr.. Paine having been
| elected first member will call the others
together. At least that appears to be
the sentiment among the remainder OF
| the commission, aud they are awaiting
| some notification from him on the SUBJ
| ject.
Last evening the joint committee on
sewers was to have given hearing on
several petitions aud resolutions for
sewers in Elmv ood, Thurbers, Adelphi,
| Duncan and Pawtucket avenues, and
stone. ras,ao csSSsr. Plain, 1nser%an. an
and Grad streets. The hearing was
| postponed until IL o'clock this morning
| IN room ii In the city hall.
The committee had long sitting
and it is probable that p,titions
for sewers where no objections
The committee on city property held a
meeting at O'Clock this afternoon In the
public building department in the CITY
hall.
| the joint special committee on rail-
roads will give hearing on tie petition
mission to set up poles for carrying feed
wires for conveying currents Of cleo
trlcity In various streets.
Fire Commissioners
II is probable that the bill for the
| erection Of fire commission will come
up at the next meeting OF the common
council. 1t Is now in the hands OF a
committee which will report it favora-
bly,.
Last year similar bill was passed by
| the council hut was defeated in the board.
| There is general feeling In favor of the
| creation OF fire commission under the
authority given by the general assembly.
The present administration of the az
fairs OF the fire department Is far
from. satisfactory TO large
Gil and still larger part OF the citizens
| who believed that a commission should
be elected without any further delay.