Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1899-12-02
Buying the Water Plant


called upon soon to pass individual
Judgment upon the proposition to
buy the water works, and the t
campaign of education cannot be /
begun too soon that the vote cast I
may be a deliberate judgment I
given after careful weighing of !
the facts. The proposition made
by the council and accepted by the
Water Company is an offer to
purchase the present plant and pay
$50, 900. OF this $50, 900 G. es to
the company and the city assumes
the mortgage of $50, 600.
The Lewiston Water Company's
plant cost originally sos 900. 1t
was put in operation in 1890. 1t
has a twenty-five year contract
with the city OF Lewiston whereby
the city is bound to pay S225o an
nually for the use of fifteen fire
hydrants and SI25 annually for
each additional hydrant ordered
Further, the city is obligated to
pay for water used for sprinkling
the streets.
1t will G seen that the pant
has been ia operation nine years,
and that sixteen years of the con-
tract remains. Under the present
conditions the city is paying an
nually S225o for its fifteen hvdrants
and 5000 Tor water Tor spriukling
the streets, total OF $3.50. And
just now the council have to face
he proposition of enlarging the
number Of fire hydrants to meet
the demands of the citizens on the
Hill. Under the contract, if any
, are needed for the Hill no less
than ten can be ordered i'll the first
order. This makes an additional
yearly outlay OF $3.50 and brings
, the total up 10 S4Ioo which with
an additi onal Of $3.50 per month
for sprinkling the Hill will make
| $3.50 as our annual payment under
contract. And granting that the city
makes no further growth in the six
! teen years we will pay the water
company S67, 900 during the time.
But ii the city buys the plant
the purchase price is $50, 600 and
$40, 900 additional will be needed
to put i'll new reservoir and lay
! pipe to supply the hill with
/ hydrHnts and fire pressure. A
$ total then of $ioo, 900 will be need
D cd TO buy the plant aud equip it to
I meet our present needs. The city
must be bonded 10 meet the ex-
6 pense. If the bonds are placed at
; S per cent the annual interest will
c be 5000. and total for the six.
$ teen years Of $50, 900 will be paid
{. out for int rest alone.
! The present income from the
$ plant is abobt SIP $50 Of this the
city IS paying S2S5o. leaving abous
+. $1,000 paid by the CONSUMERS.
The cost of running this plant is
estimated at about $1,000 1t will
take an engineer at 5000 a helper
$ at 5000. book keeper and collector
5 5000. a pipe man at 5000. total for
wages $4,000, and fuel at $1,000,
makes $1,000 expenses. The REL
ceipts $4,000 less the EXPENSES
$1,000 leaves 10000 net In other
words the proceeds of the plant at
present will pay the interest on
f. the $roo, 900 bonds and the run
. ming expenses and leave $rooo an
. nually for extensions and repairs.
| On the present basis the plant will
, be self.snpporting
The property valuation in the
city is now $3.50, 900 on this the
A citizens pay five mill tax for
I water or total OF $4r5o. Bnt il
a the plant is disappearing as is
$ shown this tax will not be levied
: or If levied can be used as sink
ing fund 10 extend and improve
y the plant as the needs demand.
S These figures cover the main
] points of the proposition aud il
c Lewiston is to make growth in
h the period the ACCESSIBILITY of buy.
v ing is slightly in favor, but if the
: city doubles in population with
: the time the city would gain large
y ly by owning its own water. Ii
/ deter mining wha, to do the futur,
i plays a more impo taut part thar
o the present.
"A