The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-03

miles northwest Of Pomeroy. Strychnine
was found in the food given Schnebley,
who came near dying before he took the
hint. Hawkins was arrested and brought
to town last evening.
MISLEADING THE TACOMANs.
Those Interested in tho Water Deal and
Newspapers Omit Vital Information.
TACOMA, April 2-[Special. Under the
circumstances this extract from an edi-
torial in today's Posr-INTELLIGxNcER is en-
tirely too charitable:
This point may or may not have Q bearing
upon the decision OF the people, but We feel
sure that the Ledger would not knowingly wish
to mislead the people and have them vote in
favor of the purchase OF the water plant under
the erroneous impression that they would still
have something left with which to build sewers.
So far as the Ledger is concerned tax
payers are in ignorance of these facts, viz.
That the limit of Indebtedness is. 81. l53 7o7
That the proposed indebtedness is...... 2,l5ooW
That the balance for sewers Ia .$ S,7o7
That those furnishing funds and figures
to urge the sale of the water plant realize
the above as facts and do not tell the truth
about them.
If Mr.. Wright must have money to
carry on Tacoma enterprises alleged to be
in contemplation, taxpayers might do
this. viz:
Purchase his listed property for. 81, 1000
Abandon $400. 600 water plant improve
ments and issue sewer bonds for...... 4o3.707
Limit of indebtedness. .l5S. .707
For sewers over $500, 900 is needed. In
some localities sewers are . necessity. A.
H. Smith over year ago completed build
ing house costing upwards of $4,000, in
one these sewerless districts. Mr.. Smith
says:
II can't sell this house. because We have
no sewers"
He has s., 500 invested in this property.
The wife of Councilman John w. Berry
says:
We came to the West End several years ago.
but did not think Of getting along until now
without sewerA Drainage and nth II running
water and get along with the present supply for
year or two longer, but We must have se~era
Everybody in the seweNess districts
knows all about it. Less than three months
ago the Ledger foreboded an epidemic of
typhoid fever if sewers were not con.
structed. Now its policy dictates thus:
Au0 xcUyev uuU alkS3uy pOiuSeu Out Su8b tuO
purchase [water and electric light will not in
crease the burden Of the tax payers-that 1t will,
in fact, reduce the burden already borne by at
least SIS 600 per year. That it will In no way in
crease the tax on manufacturing 10 absolutely
demonstrabie, because tho water service sup
piled by the city win pay all interest charges
and cost Of operating. Good management, such
as it ought to have and must have, will not only
do this but will produce . surplus revenue. 1t
abo n mr. than this IL shoul1 ma
all the charges aud expenses, and reduce the
present rate to consumers, and that this can be
done is demonstrable. Instead of increasing
the tax on manufactures 1t will reduce their ex-
penses, II they use water from the city service,
as they may do. ior q surplus for that purpose
will be produced.
And Superintendent Hurley, of the
light and water company. sums up the
company's operations for 1892 thus:
Tacoma Light and Water Company's opera
tion OF water and electric plants:
Gross income. ...... .$24s,o59 Oh
Gross expenses. 1D.o02 IL
Net earnings --..tl25,256 e2
Which will pay interest on bonded in
debtedness Of S2,150,0O9 at per cent &lO7 500 90
Leaving balance of. ........$ 17,756 81
But the proposition to purchase is based
primarily on the assumption that water
rates would be reduced and that the city
would be relieved of paying as corporation
for its water and light. A taxpayer says:
If the city buys 1t will for the present have to
pay In part, twice for its water and light, and
besides maintain the present high rates to pri-
va;e consumers.
This statement is based on the fact that
the city is the light and water company's
best customer. For instance:
City paid for light and water, 1892 80. 1875 IS
Interest on bonds a. proposed lO7.5o0 %
Total, II purchase 10 mada ....... .$l73.475 76
Company's total net earnings. l25.256 92
City must still pay. "a. 2ls 81
All these figures, except the deduction,
are the light and water company's.
Still, hundreds Of good business men and
taxpayers favor the purchase. As busi-
ness proposition, present and prospective,
they deem it q good one.
A certain city ordinance provides:
1.-THE city shall fix the price to be paid for
its water"
By enforcing this ordinance the bulk of
the $7l,975.76 paid by the city could be
saved to the taxpayers.
Brief Tacoma News.
TACOMA, April 2.-lspeciai. Margaret
Morton was yesterday divorced from her
hushand Edward T. Marion AdrI,a~v