The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-10-05

work may tie stated as follows:
Estimated amounts yet to be- paid
on contracts already made
On wheels pumps etc................. STAT 60
On penstockS. etc ..... .......... 10 ono 90
On power house. ................... &C. 1S5 Ga
On light dynamoS NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 1850 IS
On valves ..... Observation-Disclosures. $500 90
On power generators ............. 12O00 90
On water observation-disclosures. l1S75O W
On pipe laying ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. ST. 900 90
Making total of ......,............, S344O93 80
TO which should be added the fol-
lowing estimates of contracts, etc., yet
yet to DO made:
B Bans sH Of TePSlgs ;no ctv s20 60
Reservoir for SO 00D 90 gallons ....... $4,000 90
Damages to submerged lands. ......... 5000 90
Total. ................ ..... 900. $l00 600 90
Which added to the amount of bills
approved to date amounts to $780,
sos 81
Our resources can be stated as fol.
lows:
Receipts from sales of bonds and
amounts refun ed to the wafer and
light fund to date .................. $934961 T3
4SS bonds yet to be sold at say 95c.. 416, 10 90
Inc rdllroau' say '....,.............. 7000l 10
Which will leave O balance
SCI ,463 A out Of which to pay for en-
gineering and any unex pected ex.
penses which may have to be met,
and we can feel assured that our
splendid water and light system can
be completed within the amount
voted by the people, and all this can
be accomplished within six months
after the sale of the balance of our
bonds.
THE RESULT.
What may be reasonably expected
as the Outcome of our enterprise is a
matter OF great interest to our citizens.
There can be no doubt about the re.
ceipts from the water and light sys-
tenn paying the interest and sinking
fund on the bonds issued for its con-
struction, and all operating expenses.
The final fixing of rates aud the
methods of collecting the same will
devolve upon the city council, and |
believe the council will be governed
by wise and liberal policy in the
matter.
have given the matter cOnsidera-
BILE thought, and if called upon to
make recommendations would present
the following:
.''. WATER.
Were il possible to enforce the use
use of water meters by every water
taker the receipts from the water sys-
tenn could be determined with con-
siderab BILE degree of accuracy, as the
rti rs
capita in cities where meters are used
is we'll known, but as this is at pre-
sent impractcable here it will be
necessary to make house rates, which
can be far less than any that have yet
been paid in Austin and yet yield
sufficient income.
There are, by actual count, 5000
dwellings, $50 stores and office build
iugs and tour large hotels convenient
to our proposed pipe lines. Assuming
that 10U0 of these are small dwellings
that will have use for but one faucet
rate of 50 cents per month could be
fixed for such dwellings which would
produce revenue of $4,000 per annum
mother 1000 of the houses will use
more water and will have from two t.
three faucets, and the rate tor such
could be fixed at 81 90 per month, and
this would bring $4,000 year. OF
the remaining 1000 dwellings many
would have use tor from four to five
faucets, and the rate for such at ST. sc
per month would not be excessive,
and this would produce q revenue of
$4,000 per annum. The stores and
office buildings could safely average
II soL 4 4
to $780, and the four hotels
would average 5000 year
each, and would add $24OO
to the annual revenue.
In addition to the regular takers
there is always q demand by con
tractors for water while erecting
buildings, for mixing mortar, etc
which, judging from my own expert.
ence, would amount to at least $250C
per annum The county and United
States buildings would pay at least
$1,000 a wear for water, and the state
institutions would doubtless contrib
ute $4,000 per annum for water sup
ply. All of these would make tota
of $50 500 per annum for water alone
and III addition to this many of oul
citizens have large lawns and flower
gardens, and water furnished then
through meters at the exceedingly
low rate of IL IL cents per 1000 gal
, Ions or 2 cent per barrel will induce
= a liberal use CT water for sprinklina
; and irrigating purposes, and it woulC
encourage the establishment of vege
=. table gardens within reach
i Of the pipe lines, for with sucl
meter rates irrigation can vel
i be afforded. The amount that woulC
> be received from such sources canno
. be even approximately estimated, bu
. it W uld be considerable and woult
! !, not be less than $4,000 a year.
q LIGHT.
VI The number of rooms convenient t
d our proposed electric wire line is lit
n tie over 21,00O. 1t is very REASONABLE
,. to suppose that if the price Of electri
light is placed at such figures as t
~ compete with kerosene oil the danger
d Gus kerosene lamp will eventually
g banished and the better, cleaner an
d safer electric light substituted there
g. for, and our insurance rates woul
g then tie lessened.