The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-04-13

cienE 20 meet the interest on the pur-
chase price and to maintain the expense
! of operating the plant, besides providing
for surplus to meet any exigency
which might arise. Under the present
| contract TIE city has with the water
works company, we are paying per cent
on S250.00o Taking that as abasis. ii is
my opinion that the city owning its
own water works the water rate could
! be reduced ard then receive sufficient
| revenue from the consumers 10 maintain
the plant and pay interest on the actual
value of the same, as hereinbefore stat
| ed, and save to the city what it is pay
| ing for hydrant rental.
| | presume the next important ques-
| tiod thai viii come before this council
viii be the electric and gas lights. Ii is
my opinion that all electric and gas
| lights that are maintained by the city on
| the residence streets should be discon-
tinued; also several lights on Main and
Douglas avenue. So far as the street
lights are concerned on the resident
streets. they have never been evenly dis
tributed as to the assessed valuation of
| the property on which said lights have
beeG pigced. 1 submit the following:
The assessed valuation of the property
| on Emporia avenue from Douglas 10
Thirteenth street is s12S,503. This street
| has nine gas. three electric and nine va
po- lights TGpeAa avenue has an as
sassai valuation from Douglas avenue 20
! Thirteenth street Of s1S1 $50, and has
thirteen gas, six electric and two vapOr
lights. The assessed valuation of Law
renee for the same distance is s1S4 e35.
The residents of that street are favored
with eight electric, nine gas and three
vapor lights. The assessed valuation OF
Market from Douglas 10 Thirteenth
street IS s222, 765, and there are two cleo
trio. thirteen gas and eight vapor lights
on the street.
The assessed valuation of Waco ave-
nue. from Douglas avenue TO Thirteenth
street is S1O5,56o. with thirteen gas, seven
vapor lights and two electric lights. The
s1me inelu2ii y 10. only exists in the
area ment 0ned. but in many other parts
of the city. The fact is. in maintaining
the lights as now located. the many have
been taxed tor the benefit of the favored
few. As the city is burdened with an
enormous debt brought upon us by our
selves during the years of prosperity,
now We are in years of our adversely and
the people are suffering with the burdens
OF high taxes and limited incomes To
somewhat alleviate the existing circum-
stances is my rtason for abolshing all
OF the street lights on the resident streets
OF the city. However, / am in favor Of
maintaining a light of some description
at all prominent railroad crossings and
al all BRIGGS, said lights 10 be placed
are more fer a signal OF danger than for
the light il would give. If the residents
Of any street want their streat lighted,
would suggest that if the majority of the
property owners on the STREE would pc
tition the council for a system Of light
ing, said lights 70 be paid by a special
taXlevied against the sabucting property
of the stree. so lighted, or If the property
owners or residents of any street would
prefer 20 deal direct with any light COM
pany and maintain the same by private
subscription in their particular locality
or street. In either case it would solve
the ligh. question. But / don't approve
or the whole city being taxed 10 main
tail lights on some resident streets for
the benefit OF a few favored localities.
am Informed by insurance agents and
others tllet our fire department has
record OF being the most efficient depart
ment in tie west and not surpassed by
any in the country. OF its efficiency l
have no doubt However, the expense Of
maintaining ire fire department is more
than is absolutely necessary. That an
efficient department could be maintained
a a much less expense is a question be-
You'd dispute.
TIE total assessed valuation Of the city
for the year 1896 is s4.33275S. The total
bonded Indebtedness of the city on April
l, 1897, is as follows:
General bonded debt ........ sd0s45. 66
Special bonded debt ......... 204157. 40