The record-union., 1893-06-13
AN ABSURD MISTAKE.

mistake concerning the proposals for a
new water supply for Sacramento. The
Matt wades through more than column
of criticism of the proposed action, but it
is all based upon false premises; prem
ises it must have evolved from magma
ton, since not a line has appeared in
print here, or a word been uttered that
would warrant the statements made by
the Muu.
In brief, what our contemporary has to
say is this: That the city is about to OBJ
tain new water supply from one of
several sources; that in either case the
water is to be supplied by private cor
poration at enormous cost to consumers;
that thereby the people will be sold out
to a monopoly and be tax-ridden anew,
and the municipality to be given over to
the perpetual control of a private COM
pany.
The Mail then proceeds to denounce
the city for contemplating such an action,
and advises US to do nothing Of the kind,
but to own the new water works our
selves. Its advice is that Sacramento
issue bonds at forty years for $500, 900 at
AZ per cent. interest. With this sum
borrowed we should construct our own
works and levy water rate or tax to
pay the interest, create the sinking fund
of p cents per annum and raise sufficient
to pay running expenses.
Finally, after expressing its amaze
ment that Sacramento should contem-
plate doing what the Mail assumes it is
going to do, it advises the Trustees to
call a halt and submit the question to the
vote of the people whether they will sell
out their liberties to a private corporation
or retain them by borrowing $780, 600.
In the space of a column and over of
editorial, we have never known any
newspaper to stumble into so much of
error. Since the statements of the Mail
are calculated to create false impress
sions that might ipjure the city
let the exact facts be given.
There is no such proposition made or
contemplated in Sacramento as the Mail
sets forth. The city now owns its water
works, and has for a third of century
or more. 1t is not proposed, and never has
been, to give the water rates over to any
private corporation, nor to abandon the
ownership of the present water works.
What is proposed is this: First, that
whatever proposition is adopted shall be
by vote of the people at an election called
for that purpose; second, that the city
shall collect its own water rates as at
present, and that they shall not exceed
present rates, which are the lowest of any
city in the Union; third, that instead of
pumping water for its own supply the
city may purchase water delivered at ner
gates for a spot sum per million gallons,
at a rate not to exceed the present cost of
supplying water to the city by its own
works, but probably at a less cost.
The city retains the right, in all the
propositions submitted, to purchase the
new supply plant at the end of twenty
years at a valution to be then ascertained
by the equitable means Of arbitration,
such valuation to be only the value of the
plant and not including the franchise.
That is all there is of it, and as now
looked at it is far better than to borrow
money for the construction of works, for
several reasons. First, it will avoid in
crease of taxation; it is practically bor-
rowing private capital without paying
interest therefor, the capital finding its
reward in the profit it can make in sup
ply the city and the increase of the supply
from year to year; it avoids increase
of the city debt; it enables the city to rid
itself of the present debt before contract
ing a new one; it will give us a water
supply in half the time it would be posi-
BILE to do under municipal management
So far as gravity system is concerned,
TO procure a supply by storage in the
mountains exclusively for this CITY. and
pipe it to the city, while the law does not
permit the municipality to supply other
places, OI IuAuAsH WAFER AOE use OUTSIDE OF
the city as private existing water supply
companies can do. So far as the driven
wells propositions are concerned, if any
one of them is accepted the city can have
its supply within six or seven months;
whereas, if bonds have to be issued and
sold and contracts let, the scheme could
not be accomplished in year and half
If either of any of the propositions are
adopted, there will be no increase in tax
alton or water rates; if the city UNDER
takes to supply itself on the line of any
scheme other than it now operates un-
der. it means added taxation to continue
for term of forty years that will be in
excess of the present water rates paid by
the people.
The city at the end of twenty years,
under all the propositions submitted,
may take or reject the supply it has ac-
oepted for that period. That is to say, it
will be free then to adopt any other sys-