The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-28

tant Of the two matters, ror IL the council
adopts the acting mayors recommend
tons there viii be a great juggling in city
finances. People who are paying water
rents TO the city today will save, IL is
claimed. thousands OF dollars. and wealthy
property owners who own vast tracts of
nnimproyed property and who have ex-
pected 10 escape without paying their
share towards the building OF the new
water plant. viii be very much disap-
pointed.
The Water Question.
There are few things which the acting
mayor says are facts. The receipts OF the
local water department are about Sii5 coo
per year. This year they are likely 10 foot
Up $4,000 1t costs in the neighborhood OF
Sio.W0 per year 70 pump the water It
costs a few thousand more, say $1,000. to
build extensions every year The total cost
would therefore be about $50 600. Out Of
the enormous receipts each year the city
pays about SO 500 interest on the water
bonds and the balance II there is any
balance, is used. il Is said. in other funds.
by Tax Levy.
Acting Mayor Crichton does not believe
that the charter contemplated that the in
terest on the water bonds should be paid
out Of The water receipts. but by general
tax levy. For that reason II for no other
the acting mayor thinks that the water
rates should be reduced about one-half
SO thar the people Of this city VIII get
cheaper water and win not be compelled
! as they are compelled today 70 bear alone
the expense OF paying the interest on the
water bonds
Then too. the city Is about 70 make the
! Cedar river water proposition a reality.
| The people have authorized the expendf-
tire Of s. % coo Cor the plant II IS mn
vided that the principal and interest on the
bonds Issued shall b paid ont OF the water
receipts. and Z the receipts are insufficient
then a general tax levy IS authorized to
/, meet the payments.
Acting Mayor Crichton's advice 70 the
city council VII! bc: Reduce the water
rates so that the income win he only suf-
. tcient 10 meet the present running and
extension expenses Of the water DEPART
meuL and raise by general tax levy suf-
Ccient 70 pay the principal "a we'll as The
interest on shc present water bonds and
on those that VIII b issued 20 build the
Cedar river water plant
The acting mayer said yesterday: 'T
make the point that rs every owner Of
property Ia This city viii reap great Gnen-
eial bcnet-s by the building Of the Cedar
river water plant he or she should bear
some OF the expense N be incurred II
me principal and interest on the bonds ~
he issued are n be paid out or thu water
receipts then as a matter ~ fact only
the people Who are patrons o. the water
department VIII have the burden. while
hundreds % other property owners. who
have no buildings on their land. and
therefore pay TO water rents. escape.
There IS nothing falr in that ! am fn
favor az reducing the rates OF once. and
providing that the fGtrf~e debts az rhe
water department. outside q the running
and extension expenses shan be met nv
general taxation. believe the city char
ter so contemplated
Vast Benent 20 the city.
Every person Who knows ANYTHING
aboa, the Cedar river scheme is aware Of
/ the vast benefits which its existence viii
water ard a cheap electric light plant. ana
The city VIII ~ II = position 20 furnish
horse power for 80 which now costs $6s
There viii be other Ereat ADVANTAGES
/ which Il - not necessary for rne at thfs
tine - mention. Snflce e. 10 say thar
+he system VIII rensat every person wa0
owns 3 foot q property within the city
| limits. But II We 70 ahead a. c0utevn-
plated keep Up the high water rates ard
meet the payments or the bonds ogt -
tfe water receipts the patrons % the
water department Viii pay f0- the piaat.
. T7ose people no own thousands - ceres
- valuable property V hjch ~ present IS
"A shout buildings VII not pay . cent.
she cost q fhe water plant VIZ have been
paid or partly paid ana those property
ow HeFs, thanks 70 ere old water patrons
Wl8 Pc presented wien cheap lsa- and
cheap water. taelF property wllI have
vastly Improved III Fafle tfca Use q flIe
great water system. and hat wlu 81 have
COST them? Nothing. absolutely nothing.