The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-03

sso9l1& IgMee5ljT thing Quickly Yields to the
easy effort of the housewife who uses this
great cleaner. Largest package-greatest
economz. Ask the 6rOcer for it.
municipal ownership Is inevitable But
the real reason why this city should
own the WaterWOrks is the fact that
40 900 people should not have to depend
on a private corporation or private IN
dividuals for such an essential thing as
water. It is the question. of having an
Immediate and continuous supply, with
out fear of having it cut off, as has been
the case more than once in dealings
with private waterworks companies"
Mr.. T. w. Harrison said: Water in
abundance and pure should be supplied
to the citizens of a city at actual cost.
1t is something so essential that it
should not be a matter speculation.
The mere question of sanitation is a
great argument in favor of the city
ownership of water works. Not more
than tWo-thirds of the people of this
city have water privileges, and still the
other third is paying taxes to maintain
this city government. The city should
be in a position to supply these out
standing districts, which never will be
supplied by a private corporation, be-
cause a private corporation looks at the
matter simply as question of dollars
and cents. Such a corporation would
never extend a main where it wouldn't
pay for itself.
1.-THE present corporation is located
that this is not what the citizens of
this city want. Is it right that such an
important thing as our water supply
should be entrusted to people in New
Jersey? The city should control abso-
Iutely so prime a necessity as water"
Mr.. Harrison then produced a copy
of the charter of the present company
and showed by it that there was but
81 600 Of the capital stock paid up.
Mr.. ]. G. SlOnecker said: Il am con-
fdent that so far as economy is con-
i .A.,1-~ = Il
pie of Topeka will get lower water
rates because the city owns the water
works. The only question is that of
public health I am distinctly opposed
to the proposition made by the mayor
and council for several reasons, but I
am in favor of taking this matter up
now so we will know what to do when
the franchise of the company expires
three years hence"
Mr.. E. w. Benedict closed the discussion
by a defense of the figures submitted by
the committee in its report. He said that
municipal ownership was the only posi-
BILE solution of the present water works
situation in this city.
The amendment to the resolution, cut
ting out all reference to the acquisition of
the present plant was then made by Mr..
D. J. Greenwald. 1t was accepted by
amended carried Sam Radges was the
only man voting no" Mr.. Wilder did
The Supplemental report of the commit
tee was as follows:
The committee on water works CUES
ton, having submitted a report of facts,
figures and statistics bearing upon the de-
STABILITY of the city ownership of water
works, has made further research and
examined more thoroughly the informa-
ton obta1nable bearing upon this feature
of the water works question, and have re-
examiner the lnIorInatlon paced petore
the cluo IN their report at last meeting,
and beg leave to report that the facts and
figures there given are substantially cor
rect and the information is fortified and
, strengthened by further investigation. The
committee has confined its work to the
presentation of informa ton which will be
useful and helpful to citizens to make up
their judgment upon the water works
The subject of the desirability of the
ice of the city is the first question to be
determined in the minds of every citizen.
to decide the question. The COMMITTEES
has no expression Of opinion to make. on
is matter of municipal business wis
''The main points in obtaining such in
forma ton, stripped of all details, are, first.
that it is shown that more than One-half
are owned and economically operated by
the municipalities which they serve; sec
Ond, that the water works of Al of the 80
ties and third that ownership by munich
palities gives cheapened water service.
These points show disturbances of NUM-
3'The Kansas bureau of labor says: Be
leYings that popular interest in the cues
ton of private and public ownership of
public utilities will Justify the effort, for
the purpose of making comparison a. to
the operation of private and public plants
in this state few plants are presented.
We have selected six plants of private
ownership and six plants of municipal
ownership, The selection of these plants
was governed by the fact that their
erage cost of construction and the average
popula ton of the cities in which they are
located are more nearly equal than any
other like number of plants in the number
reported. The average rate per anngmna
for the private ownership plants is S.; SO
municipal plants for like service. $50,
difference In their average rates of 1.69
per annum in favor of municipal owner
ship Total amount paid out in salaries
and wages for the six priva te plants. S10-
40: for the six municipal plants. salaries
and wages. for the same time, Sc, 205, diff
ownership, SO far as cost of running is
concerned "