Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1895-03-16
4 wonp ZOE rnr wArrn coMrANY

Water Company for increasing the
water rates, james NJ. Mnnroe, ESD,
one Of orr puhlic-slirited citizens has
written the following very explanatory
article for the CAPITAL, giving the
Water Company side of the question,
which we feel sure viii lie read with IN
terest. lie says:
The American citizen is noted for ms
love Of "fair-play. and ! feel sure that
most Of the opposi ion to the Increased
rate is due to a misunderstanding of the
situation. For several years past,
the State and city authorities, the
authorities at the Naval Academy, and
all the people of Annapolis, complained
of our water-supply. The complaint
was just, the water WAS insufficient in
quantity, frequently offensive to taste
and smell, the pre- sure was feeble, and
the service WIS in every respect in
adequate 10 the needs Of the consum-
ers.
At the last annual meeting OF the
stockholders, in which the State was
represented by the Governor, and the
city 10y the Mayor, and the private
stockholders were nearly all represented
in person or by proxy, after the fullest
discussion OF all matters pertaining to
the welfare of the company, and par
ticularly of ways and means of en-
aiding the company to discharge its duty
TO the public in the most efficient way.
committee of stockholders was APP
pointed 10 investigate the whole matter,
TO suggest plan of recognizing the
board of directors, to suggest bylaws
for its government and the best ways to
provide a permanently sufficient supply
of pure water for Annapolis. and to re-
port TO another meeting of the stock
holders. This was done in very
thorough manner, the valuable sugges-
tions and report Of the committee
adopted and q new board OF directors
elected, none of whom are officers OF
the company, except the President.
The directors charged with the specific
duty by the stockholders, and elected
Tor that express purpose, after careful
estimates made by skilled engineer,
upon plans devised by him and adopted
by the directors, set about making the
improvements which had become abso-
lutely necessary to enable the company
to discharge ITS duty to the public. Ii
is unnecessary 60 enumerate these inn
provements here; suffice it to say that
when completed Annapolis will probably
have the best equipped Water Plant of
amy town its size in the country. We
will have Il bountiful supply of pure,
delicious water, that will defy any
drought we may reasonably expect; we
viii have IN excellent pressure; a double
system OF mains from the works to The
city, and Annapolis viii no longer be,
rs 1t has often been in the past, at the
mercy of the flames had Il fire struck it.
But ace ,ciU also hare q debt of about
.fOfty-fre thousand dollars, of this
thirty-iiye thousand dollars is provided
for by the bonds; but ten thousand
dollars is not provided for, hut is float
ing or unsecured debt Now it is the
plainest kind of Il business proposition
that this debt should be paid off rs
speedily as possible. How are we to do
il heard some one suggest that we
economic 10y cutting down the salaries
of the officers. Good suggestion: but
we lave done that. The president used
to get $500 Il year, now he gets 5000
The secretary and Treasurer used to
get 5000, year; that was cut down first
TO $500, and now to SiO0. The direc-
tors get nothing, mot even thanks,
though they are relieved from payment
of water-rates
hear another suggest that we ought
not to declare dividents until we pay
off this floating debt. Good suggestions:
but one tnat has already boon adopted.
The Stockholders riu not reccicc one
cent u dirideaa ,chilc this floating
dcJt eciSts.
Now in this state of the case, the Water
Company has advanced the water rate
for nydrants oae-half % one cent a day
for the period of one gear: and for
water closets one and oae-third cents
q dag for the same period. To the
private consumer there is no other in
crease, the total being less than t,ro
cents daa, and limited 10 the period
of one Aear. should think the, would
giddlN contribute tlis mite toward the
great public Improvement which has
been made Cor their benefit. For large
con sumers, boarding-houses, hotels,
railroad companies, gas and electric
light companies, and the like, the rate
will be regulated by the meter; the rate
for the Naval Academy has, believe,
always been regulated by the meter.
IL the information contained in the
February tiSe5) number of THE NUM-
cipality aud County," journal of
practical information For municipalities
and counties and PARTIES dealing with
the same, published monthly at Buffalo,
be correct, then we are furnishing
water 10y the meter cheaper than any
city in the Union except Buffalo and
Washington. lSee =. 80 Of the afore-
said journal and correct Typographical
or,..,r <t10o rf1s<, f.es :, -, fss,tss 49, <f.