Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1899-10-04

@tHeu ms 20 Pay Oter $4,000 Vel
for Water.
| From reading the following tn
taxpayer can get pretty good ide
OF what Las Vegas will. have to pa
for water for city purposes in a shor
time Phoenix is parallel case wit
Las Vegas. The rates for water 10
private use are about the same as here
II is to be hoped that the selfish in
fluences" will not operate to preven
the city. of Las Vegas from owning it
own water system. The article goe
to show that the history of all privat,
owned water systems is one of get al
you can. 1t is true, however, that tn,
Phoenix company did put in a larger
main for two miles. two years ago.
Especial correspondence to The Optic.
Phoenix, Ariz., Oct 2.-The city oi
Phoenix is supplied with water for do
mestic and fire purposes by a private
corporation. The franchise was grant
ed to the company by the city council
in 1889 for term Of twenty-five years
with the privilege of buying at the end
OF every term of five years. In grant.
ing the franchise the city secured in
return certain important privileges
but in spite of this fact the money ex-
pended for water and fire protection
purposes constitutes the heaviest item
of municipal expense. The burden is
so heavy, in fact, as to furnish a strong
argument in favor or municipal owner.
snip OF water system by the citizens
here but thus far an insufficient vote
by reason of selfish influences has
prevented the city from taking this de-
sirable step.
The water is secured by the infiltra-
ton process, two large wells furnish.
Ing pure, clear supply. Until recent
ly one well was sufficient. This was.
sunk to a depth of about thirty feet
and was twenty-four feet in diameter.
The Salt river is situated two miles
south Of Phoenix and has very little
water flowing on the surface when
opposite the city. When the time
came to establish the water system
by its projectors, it was found imprac.
ticable to secure supply from the riv-,
er. The flow Of water was, In fact.
appropriated years before by the var.
lous irrigation companies. The water
company therefore took advantage Of
expert opinion in the matter and dug
the well mentioned. The result was
all that could be expected. Recently
when the supply became insufficient.
owing to the increased demand for
water a larger and deeper well was
lug close by the first and both operat.
ed without disadvantage to the other
and abundant water occurred.
So much for the source OF supply.
Now as to votes: The city has S, |
lydrants for fire protection. The city |
bays $40 year for each hydrant, max.
ng total cost of SO, 920 for that pur.
'ose alone. During the summer3
months of June, July. August and
september, four sprinkling carts are II
perated at a cost of $50 each per
ionth for water. Each cart has ca
acity of $50 gallons. During the bal
or sprinlking the streets is $4,000
ear. The total cost annually is $5,-
20. |
AS stated, however, the city, In
the franchise to the water
reserved certain rights to it.
self. as consideration for the granting |
If the same: Water Is supplied, free
Of charge, for the purpose and use OF
the buildings of the fire department,
city officers, free public schools, !
and one spray fountain In
each ward in the city. Also for flush
ing sewers and cutters.
1t will be observed that this is val
liable consideration but in spite OF 1t
the city pays out annually $5.120 to the
water company.
The city hall is situated on block
of land in the central part of the city.
1t is seeded to grass and planted in
trees and shrubbery and has an orna-
mental fountain in front. The water
or the city hall and for the irrigation
of the plaza mentioned is furnished
free under the terms, of the franchise.
The county court house Is located two
blocks distant from the city hall and
has a similar plaza, without an orna-
mental fountain. The county pays for
all the water it gets, using meter to
accurately gauge, the amount. From
an inquiry at the Office of the clerk
lnis morning it was learned that the
county has used water from January l
to August 81, 1899, to the value OF
s551.10.
Now, as to rates to private consum'
ers: Houses occupied by single ram
lilies of not more than five persons, In
cluding one bath tub, So per month;
for each additional person, ten cents
per month. For irrigating a lot, 30
feet frontage, 80 cents month. Meter
rates: 10000 gallons or less, daily, 20
cents per 1000 gallons; over 10000
gallons and less than $4,000 gallons,
40 cents.
The plant is operated by the pump
ing process-the most; expensive
known-but it has never been intimat-
ed that the company's rates are In
Iadequate. .
Tue city proper Is about as large as
Las Vegas-that Is to say, from, 5000
to 5000 population. There are numer
GUS and populous outlying additions
that will probably be included in tht
limits before long. The city vii
therefore be called upon to face still
i heavier expenses in the way of fur
nishing fire protection: etc. Stree
sprinkling will also be asked for II
these additions, as the dust on travele'
tAoroughfares here is anything bu
pleasant and is to be found where tn
roadways are not kept damp.