Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1896-04-10

that this contract he that the Elec-
trio 4 Water company agrees to ac-
cept. and that the city agrees to give
$5, 900 for the same and such service
az the Electric 4 Water company is
now giving the city. and upon which
the charges are something like $1,000.
These services to include arc lights,
hydrant rental, sewer flushing. street
sprinkling, attending fire alarm sys-
tenn, lighting city nall, and In fact,
to include all and every service now
being performed for the city. We
believe this price for such service to
be just and adequate, based on the
estimated value of the plant. This
would pay ~ per cent ON their In
vestjment, and we believe that this
would be net. %".rf.
1t is. estimated that the income
from private consumers amounts to
fully $40 600 per year, and this sum.
with fairly conservative manage
ment. would cover the expense Of
operating and maintaining the plant,
in which case, the amount received
from the city would be net, and
could. and should he figured as pay
ing a certain rate ON the. money in
vested. We believe that the plant IL
being handled carefully. and that
salaries are not larger than are be-
ing paid by plants Of like size, in
other cities in the state.
In order to ascertain whet her or
not our charges for light and water
service We're reasonable we sent in
quiries to several cities within the
state. and have received replies to
most of our letters.
IA table of reports Is then given,
but each item requires some explana-
ton to make it intelligible, 80 its
insertion here would be as apt to
mislead as to give valuable informa-
tion.,
We find the charge to private con-
sumers to he reasonable, somewhat
lower than the average, but the city
contract makes charges somewhat
higher than the average, both for
arc lighting and for hydrant rent.
We also strongly recommend that
the council and Electric Il Water
company make arrangements to
meet very soon after the new council
sits. believing that satisfactory
arrangement can be made, and at a
saving of a great deal of annoyance
and expense to both parties.
MUNICIPAL SALARIES AND EXPENSES.
Your committee recommend to the
serious considera ton of the incOm-
ing council the scaling down of sal
aries and other expenditures
wherever it can be done. We rec
commend reductions as follows:
per annum
City Attorney, from $500 to $500
Assessor. from $500 to $500
Health from $3.50 to 800
City Clerk from $500 to $500
Treasurer from l per cent to 4 per
cent.
That the police force consist Of
chief and two assistant police; SAL
airy of each TO be fixed at $50 per
month, and that $40 per ulOnth be
paid for special police arrangements
at the depot.
We find q heavy expense for re-
pairs of water closet and bath tub
in city hall, plumbing charges appear
to he excessive, and repairs more
frequent than would seem necessary,
and we recommend that the use Of
said water closet and bath tub be
restricted to the use of those who
are entitled to these privileges. We
strongly recommend that all street
work and grading, and the opening
up of new streets, and. in fact, all
improvements of every nature he
curt allied as closely as possible, and
such work he reduced to the mini
mum; to the end, that no such work
shall be undertaken while the city's
financial condition is as at present,
except where said work is deemed
absolutely necessary.
SANITARY co EITIONs.
The present sanitary condition
land the same condition has existed
for the past eighteen months) is a
constant danger to the health of our
citizens, and prompt action should
be taken, and q general and thorough
cleaning up ordered. If any one will
take the pains to examine, even in q
casual way, the back streets and
back alleys on both our business and
resident streets, an enormous
amount of manure. decayed vege-
tables. rotten potatoes and other
filth will he found. This refuse has
lain and accumulated for nearly two
years and is dangerous. In addition
H.