People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-05-16
Our Water Works.

ONN'
the franchise given the city can in
1899 buy the plant at its appraised
value by arbitration, or, failing to
agree, to be determined in distric,
court as other questions of fact. 1t
would be we'll to take time by the
forelock and prepare for it.
The city of independence is just
now preparing TO submit the ques.
ton Of buying their water works to
the people. They have a similar
system to ours. Wellington has
about 1000 more population than
independence. Independence pays
sS,45O annual hydrant rental. Wei.
lington pays $4,000 at approximate.
the same rental price per hydrant
On the subject ofpurchase the indie.
pendence Star and Kansan says:
Sufficient is known now to make an
estimate Of the probable saving to the
people of the city by the purchase OF
the works; and gentleman connected
with the city government who has ex.
amined this question in all its bear.
ingS, states it is his opinion that the
city can save enough out Of what it is
at present paying as hydranG rental.
with the addition Of the profit from
private consumers, to pay for the
works in six years! If that be the case
and we let this opportunity to pur.
chase 90 by, we shall lose in SIX years
the entire value of the works. In
other words the point to be decided is
whether in the next six years we shall
pay for the works, and have the works
TO show for our money; or whether we
shall make some eastern capitalists a
present OF an amount equal to the
value of the works, and have nothing
to show for it, except some receipts
for hydrant rental.
To show that these statements are
based on something more than opinion
and guess work, l will give a few
figures and estimates. There is now a
pressing demand for extension OF
mains 10 various directions. Whether
the city buys or not these mains will
have to be laid. The city is now pay
ing So, $50 per year hydrant rental. II
the mains are extended so as to put in
twenty-five more MIGRANTS, as they
should be, our rental will be increased
from $3.50 to s4,75O per year. But
take it as it stands, and the city will
have to pay for the present hydrants
in the next six years the sum of $40,
700. Deduct from this an average O
S4OO per year, which the works maj
pay in taxes for city purposes, and vol
will have left as the net cost Of pres
emit hydrant to the municipality tn,
sum Of $4,000.
On the other hand, suppose the cit,
buys the works for $4,000, paying
per cent interest on them. II th,
bonds were issued so that the prin
Cipal would be paid in six years IL
equal yearly installment, the total in
terest payments would be about SO, $50
making the total expense to the cit,
for the principal and interest Of tn
purchase money, s2S,75O. To pay 70
the works, then, in six years, on thi
estimate, it would be necessary to pc
nearly sl,750 year, in excess OF tn,
expense OF operation, from privat
consumers. The best obtainable in
formation indicates that the com
panys present revenue from sucl
sources is nearly $1,000 per annum, Al
amount which can be readily increase,
80 per cent without any increased cos
for operation, by extending the main
and placing the water within reach O
everybody.
Suppose, on the other hand, tn
present company makes the extension
and increase our hydrant rental +
81, $50 per year-Or $500 in the ST
years, less $500 year in taxes for cit,
and school purposes. We shall the
have paid out s25,5OO in that time
which is fully as much as the work
are now worth.
Ii the question Is submitted to tn
voters of the city, as it probably vii
be before the first Of July, there
little doubt as to how they will decid
it. 10 fact the only opposition to tn
purchase of the works seems to prC
coed from a single source; and to b
solely in the interest of the presen
owners OF the works.
We have no means of estimatin
the revenue Of the Wellington waite
company from private sources, bu
1t is safe to say that they will not b
dissimilar to those at independence
1t is fair to presume that the revenu
from private sources in Wellingto,
would reach $4,000 or more.
AS to the value of the works, tn
Star and Kansan says: .-
Estimates Of the cost and deprt
citation Of the buildings we're ful
nished by Mr.. ]. H. Brewster, all
everything gone into in detail. A
though the report was to a certai
extent informal and is not yet /
shape for publication, it shows tia
the present value Of the works is nc
much in excess Of 5000. The cit
attorney was instructed to commun
cate with the water company an
ascertain for what price they woul
sell, without going into litigation
and on the receipt of an answer til
lcOunril will no ca1lad into cnooio1 oa