The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1893-09-16
Do1ngsoftne couuci1.

Doin,ssof the Council.
The city council met i'll adjourned
meeting Monday evening. The question
of extending the water system Of the
town was taken up again. At Il former
meeting the regular appropriation or
dinance for the current year provided
sufficient funds for extending the water
mains on several streets and passed its
first reading. At the meeting Monaay
evening the ordinance was amended by
eliminating the amount OF money ap-
%propriated for water mains. A more
careful review of the matter has led the
council to believe that tho water system
cannot be legally extended at the city'a
expense, the Indebtedness now being be-
yond the limit prescribed by the statutes.
In personal conversation with some of
the members of the council we expressed
the same opinion Immediately after the
ordinance was prepared and we are
pleased to know that they are now of the
same opinion.
Even if the citv's Indebtedness did not
reach the limit, it is a question whether
the council would have the right to ex-
tend the mains on certain streets at the
city's expense. Anyway, it would be a
rank injustice to some unless the water
was carried to the door Of every mans
house, or practically so. Then again, it
would be an unbusiness like proceeding
to extend the mains on any street or to
any point where the revenue derived
from tho water rent would not pay a fair
per cent upon the investment. No
private water-works company would do
it, and the affairs Of q municipality
should be conducted on some conservative
business principles so far as possible.
Had the town but q small Indebtedness
there would, possibly, be no great object
ion to running the mains IN all the
principal streets and extending the
system SO that about every property hold
er could have easy access to the water
and bond the town to pay the expense,
If the people so voted, but as that cannot
be done legally the only thing to do-if
the mains are to be extended at all-is
to go ut it not only legally but equitably
to all concerned.
In most Of the eastern townsville water
works are owned by private corporations
and tho system is sufficiently extended
for tho convenience Of property holders
through the necessity OF Il wide distrihu-
ton of fire plugs which the city pays fer.
In the case OF sewers, the expense OF their
construction falls entirely upon the
AUDITING property and the assessment is
generally divided into five annual pay
ments. Pavements are constructed in
much the same manner except that the
city usually rays a portion-about % per
cent. In the case Of water and sewers
the benefit tends exclusively to the
abutting property. In the case of pay
ments everybody using the highway is
benefited-that is why the city pays a
portion.
We have personally suggested to mem
bers of the council that the water system
Of Kimball could gradually be extended
as have our sidcwalks-at the expense of
the abutting property-and the payments
divided so as to require only a small as
sessment each year until paid. In this
manner the expense would not average
over SO a lot, or an assessment Of, a
So each year for five Syears-a nominal
sum surely for the benefit to be derived.
Warrats in payment of the work could
then be legally drawn on this fund.
This idea was fayorably discussed at the
meeting Monday night.
The 1900 feet Of two-lnch wood main
down South Main street was laid by
eight or ten property II and cost
about 5000. The amount paid is being
related by the city in the form of water
tax. Had this amount been assessed
against all the abutting property and
divided into five annual payments the
assessment on each lot would not have
been over $1.25 annually.
OF course further extensions would
probably be with a larger main and with
a corresponding greater cost per foot.
The GRAPHIC would like to SEQ the
large amount of artesian water going to
waste utilized toward identifying the
town, and the advantages and con-
veniences Of the water are so great that
almost any resident property holder can
we'll afford a considerable outlay to Oh
tain them.