The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-03-03
TALKS WITH FORCE.
Mr.. 2. E. GUTHRIE GIVES FACTS
AND FIGURES.
Answers the Yawp About Latter-Day Ex-
travaEance in Municipal Management,
and His Companions viii Prove Odious
to the Partisan Push for Office Pap-The
Past. With Commendable Fortitude aud
Abnecating Ecouomy-Tax-Payers May
Readily See Where They are "at."

Abnecating Economy-Tax-PayersM May
| Readily See Where They are ..at."
| Inasmucf as the partisan push for Of
| fee pap has forgotten the referendum
! in yawping about present municipal ex-
travagance. an Eagle reporter interview
| ed Mr.. R. Z. Guthrie, VINO keeps tabs
on city affairs, as a property owner, and
as man who loves this fair valley gem.
which every loyal resident should be
proud to Gill his home. Mr. Guthrie said
While not denying the fact that there
! might be some economy in the manage
ment of both our city and county affairs,
We are still faced with facts as they exist
and under existing conditions ii would
be next 10 impossible TO save an amour:
in either direction that would be felt very
| much by any individual tax payer, I'M
less ne should be a very heavy one.
While not stating this as a vndication
of any particular Administered ton Of our
city's financial affairs, / will say that the
major part of the present large expendi-
lures were bartered upon us by former
-
which formerly amounted to nearly $780,
QUO per annum (now reduced to about
$4,000 was made, signed and went into
effect under former mayor and date
and in 1892, and expires this coming
summer. Our water franchise was
granted fifteen years since and the works
accepted fifteen years ago the coming
November. By this franchise the city
contracted with the water company to
take sixty fire flydrants at an annual
cost of $4,000 and additional needed n.y.
drants at stipulated price, and enough
have since been ordered to make the fixed
charge against this city for fire hydrants
alone OF $4,000 per annum. The addi-
tional water used by the city for flush
ing and other purposes brings the total
annual charge up 10 between $4,000 and
81 5000, the latter amount being sufficient
TO pay ) per cent interest upon $4,000, 900
of bonds. This city has the ojtion this
year by giving proper notice to purchase
thase works at aprice to be fixed by
their expert, and the works are worth
just what they will pay fair return on
and if the works are paying investment
upon actual cost the franchise is worth
the present worth of the annual charge
upon the city during the remaining life
of the franchise. A number of our citi-
zens have asked, could the city not build
her own works? This we could certainly
do but it would not relieve us from the
annual charge we are now bound for 10
the present company unless the company
should fail in their part of the contract
and division of the private consump-
ton would no doubt be Improbable to
either the company or the city. I really
think this city should own the water
works. The buying of the works would
not really be an increase OF the debt of
this city, as under a fair appraisement
the works would be worth what we paid
for them. and I understand that water
bonds upon a city of good size and credit
are considered better than the ordinary
city bonds
Lincoln ,Neb., has to maintain their
pumping station in her works by reason
of water supply and her works are self
sustaining with no expense 10 the city
for water for public use. Bloomington,
H., a. city of about our own popula-
ton, makes a profit at very low rate 10
private consumers, and water for all pub
lie use costs them nothing. Bloomington
also operates ner own electric light plant
and 1000 candle power lights costs her
about $500 per year, saving of SIS per
year per light at thep rice this city pays
at present, and we get ours at rather be-
low the average of other cities as small.
Returning TO the subject of taxation,
let me give a few figures for comparison.
Comparing the years 1890 and 1891 vi h
the years 1894 and 1895. we find the fol-
lowing:
For years 1890 and 1891 the