The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-01
UNIFORM LEVY ON PROPERTY.
Superintendent Wilson Advocates Cedar
River Gravity system-Unimproved
Property Escapes Tax.

Vocates immediate preparations Tor adOp-
ton of the Cedar river gravity system as
originally contemplated, and in the other
advocates the levy of water tax upon all
property in the city. Mr.. Wilson thus
lays down the proposition:
An examination of the balance sheet of the
department for ls92 will show that In addition
to their regular city and county taxes, limited
number OF our citizens haye-under the name
OF ''water rates"-carried the entire burden of
$l.o50.000 of the bonded Indebtedness, paid every
item OF expense tor maintenance, repairs ana
operation OF the entire system, furnished water
to the value OF s24, 5i4 for use by every depart
ment Of the city, inc uding the parks. sewers,
hydrsnts, etc, and have also contributed over
$49 coo for extensions of the water system to
new districts Or for uses entirely outside of the
water department. The injustice of such spe-
cal tax on part OF the people for the benefit OF
all needs no argument 10 be proven. The ques-
ton is, how can the city, especially at d time
when a great expenditure is urged to construct
the gravity system, make any REIMBURSEMENT
which snail involve suca a reduction OF reye-
nue.?
beg leave to suggest q plan by which our
present rates to consumers can be cut down at
least one-third. the general burden Of water tax
alton equally distributed, and at the same time
yield sufficient revenue to pay all expenses OF
operation aud maintenance, meet the interest
for immediate construction of the gravity sys-
tenn, and extend the water service within five
years to every settled district within the city
limits.
Thus far our financial policy has been based
on the theory that the consumer OF rate payer is
the only person benefited by water supply. but
this is far from being a true view OF the case.
Our city limits include about $1,000 acres OF
land, while our water system extends over only
about 1000 acres, less than One-fourth OF
the total area. Every acre OF land within
the city limits has higher value by reason of
the fact that the city owns a water supply capa-
bic of extension over the entire area as rapidly
as means viii! Justify. Every insurance rate in
the city is lower by reason OF the adequate fire
protection made POSSIBLE by hundreds of hy-
drants maintained with constant pressure and
supply. Ii this is true with our present made.
Quste pumping system. it will be prominently
applicable when We are assured of an unlimited
supply OF clear mountain water, flowing d.
rectly into our reservoirs from the headwaters
of Cedar river. Every foot of real estate within
our municipal limits will feel the impulse of
prosperity which will come with the ownership
and extension of such system.
BY our present plan, not q dollars cost for con.
struction. maintenance Or interest is paid by
the owners OF more than threefourths of the
area OF the CITY, nor will they pay anything I'M
til they choose to improve their property and
become consumers. Resident or nonresident
SPECTATORS can, under present conditions, hold
large unpiatted tracts or unimproved "addi-
tons,' around or through which water mains
are extended to serve improved districts be-
You'd. and, at their own sweet will, fo- a fancy
price made possible by improvements to which
they have contributed no share nor tax, sell to
some bona fide resident, who thsreupon i'm
proves the property, becomes a consumer, and
thus assumes share Of the responsibility of
cost For instance, ever since the city owned
the system, and for several years before,
main has been in service extend
ing along Jackson street through the So
called "IIill tract through which water is
furnished to the residents east of Wilfred street.
From the day of its consIruction,the Spring Hill
Water Company. AMI for the past three years
the city OF seatte-or rather q portion of the
taxpayers of Sea.tie-have maintained high
pressure pumps at Broadway station, forcing
water across this more than one half mile of I'M
productive property to consumers beyond with
out receiving one dollar income from the own
ers OF that property, nor nave they carried any
portion OF the city debt incurred Tor purchasing
that pipe or maintaining the system. Yet'eyery
lot III that vicinity will sell for at least 20 Der
cent. more by reason OF the convenient water
service, and Insurance rates will be proportion
a,ely cheaper as a result of the hydrants and fire
protection, paid for by the water consumers in the
other portions of the city. AT the present time
the people of Fremont, Denny-Fuhrman addi-
ton. LatonG, Brooklyn, Madrona Park vicinity
aud other outlying districts are calling for ex.
tensions of the water system for domestic service
and fire protection. They have just reason to
expect such service, but under the present
financial status OF the water department every
one OF these lines would be a repetition OF the
instance cited with reference to the "Hill
Tract. /. C., long .unproductive water mains,
butt by present consumers, maintained by
present consumers, interest on entire water
supply paid by present cons umers, while inter
veniag real estate owners. frequently non-resi.
dents, reap the benefits of increased valuations,
while assuming no share OF cost or RESPONSE
billty.
The situation resolves itself into this-Iess
than one-:ourth the taxable area of the citv is
carrying a burden which should be distributed
equally over the entire area In addition 10 Or
binary tsxes every consumer within the city
limits should nay for three items of expense in
Cident to the water system:
First-Iis share OF the expense OF mainte
nance and lepsirs.
Second-His share OF interest on bonds which
realiz ed the cost OF construction.
Third-His share OF a tax necessary to provide
a sinking fund for REDEEM ption of bonds. Own
e-s of real estate not improved or not paving
water rates as consumers should pay their share
oi the cost of extensions to provide them with
service. ami their proportion of the interest on
the bonds which made the water supply avail
aele. The came principle which governs taxa
ti0n for electric lighting, TIRE protection ana the
general sewer system applies with even greater
force II the general burden OF construction and
extension of our water system, 1t is proper
that consumers only should psy for mainte-
nance aud operation, but beyond this the re-
spous!bility should 30 equally shared. The
present plan is on the same principle as il would
De TO ask "a man 10 furnish capital to set his
neigh Dor up in business-a good policy for
rhl'anthropist, but foreign to al just principles
OF taxation
In my opinion a general water tax" as
sessed equally By area over the entire city, is
the iaire 81 REIMBURSEMENT OF our water depart
mont finances. Assessment by valuation would
be maniiest;y unfair, as the cheapest lots
present usually the greatest expenditure TO
reach with water service. The result med at
IS 70 p ace al adeq nate water main in from; Of
every lot IN the city, and this represents APP
proxi natelv an equal interest in the supply,
plant and distributing system for every front
foot, regard ess OF valuation. uniform rate
OF three COS cents per annum for every loo
square feet (equiyaen. to 3 cents per from, loot
Tor lots loo feei deepl would be amply sufficient
for AL purposes, yielding To the city a revenue
OF about E35,000 per aDDur1, deducting al prop
erty of city, county aud state from the effects OF
the tax such minimum rate may seeul a.
most insignificant in results, but II
would work wondrous improvements. Ac-
tual consumers would pay in addition
20 the general water tax, rates about tvo-thir's
OF The present Thus, a householder with a lot
% fact bv 100 feet would pay & general water