The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-04-21

Ton N requested
Awaiting your answer. I am.
Very Respectfully.
FRANK j. TAYLOR.
Mayor Of Astoria
once Water Commission.
Astoria. April %. iss.
To the Honorable Mayor and Common
Council Of the city OF Astorta:-
Gentlemen: The communications OF the
mayor and auditor have been laid before
the commission. In reply the commits
sion has directed the following answer
10 he made:
The distribution system has not been
completed. neither has II been turned
over by the contractors VI certified to by
the engineer The superintendent and
nre committee have bccn requested not
TO handle the hydrants until they shall
he turncd over TO the city. II II expected
that the works will be- 40 FAR completed
by May LIST that water may be furnshed
for mr. purposes.
II IL made the duty OF the commission
TO estimate at the beginning OF the year
tho amount necessary to pay interest on
the three hundred thousand dollars
bonds. the operating expenses and cost
OF extensions for the new year,
II was supposed hat AZ least 5000 per
annum would be willingly paid out OF the
city treasury towards the maintenance
OF the water works In consideration OF
the facilities furnished for Are profs =
ton. II Is concsdcd by all that the Ia
c%ili,ies for frcprotcction viii be much
greater than under the old lire engine
system.
IL Is estimated that the reduction in
aaaf - Nka nH. .Naa vgUl ~, .,.r.
than the X00O asked. so that after paying
that sum the cost TO the city would siill
DO cheaper than before.
Great additional cost has been incurred
In the construction OF the works so that
they would anord effective FIRE protec.
ton. Tho large line on Jerome avenue
Is only one instance OF tho extra expense.
There are very few consumers On that
line. Very few cities can so nearly dis
ponsc with IRE engines as car the city
OF Astoria when the works shall be COM
pleted. This is a matter not always con-
sidcrcd. when Il Is aid that some city
does not pay out its general funds for
the support OF the System.
SO efficient will be the Astoria system
that It Is expected the fire insurance
rates will be reduced 10 the benefit OF
the property holder.
Where private consumption is so great
that a small rate will pay the interest
n expenses, It perhaps Is proper for
the expense to be borne by the consum-
ers, further. the city might derive a
proht from the works. but when this
method becomes excessive and BURDEN
some u should he divided with md shar-
ed by the tax payers. The commission
does not think the expense OF Improve
mania nnIp for tho fufnra Or NJ works
made especially for Ore purposes should
be borne entir,ly by private consumers,
Tho commission has been cited to some
cities on the coast where Il is alleged the
general funds contribute nothing for the
public use OF water.
Moscow was named, In which a sun
equal to SS6 per nnnum Der hydrant Is
paid, and yet the family rate. huth and
closet included is only two dollars as
against two and IA half In Astoria
The commission thinks the expense in
Astoria on the private consumer is too
high and will be for u year or two, TO
admit OF free use OF wnter for fire pur-
poses, Portland. cited by your commit
tee, charges u family rate OF fifty cents;
Astoria one dollar AID fifty cents. But
Portland has not such service as As
torla. IL caGno so generally dispense
Win hteNInefs, IL p1ys lot private NY
drants, Tho council out OF the general
funds furnished, puts In and maintains
all OF the city hydrants, The commission
In Astoria has Furnished and is putting
In tho hydrants at the expense OF the
water funds, II Astoria could furnish
water at fifty cents family rate. there
would not be the same reason for asking
aid from the council. In Portland, how
ever. the commission Is not satisfied and
charges the city every month. although
not yet able to collect. In Pendleton
the receipts fail to meet the disburse-
ments. and the deficit Is made VI direct
ly or Indirectly from other than water
funds, Tacoma, Seattle, Salt lake and
Sacramento have much less family rates
than Astoria. Some OF them. perhaps
none. can dispense with fire engines. hut
sufficient data for a full understanding
OF the working OF the systems In these
cities are nov at hand. 70 as to allow q
fair comparison with Astoria.
Section i7S, City Charter, empowers the