The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-07-21

Oiease Ol issue unul resolution on the min.
utes be rescinded.
The lamp aud watch committe reported
that the charges against Policeman Uraitis
had not been investigated. owing to tho
absence Of the committees chairman from
town.
THE WATER WORKS.
Mr. Tracey, Of tho water committee reported
that }. X. Coyle, Esq representing one of
the syndicates that proposed TO lease the
public water works, had been notified to meet
the committee last Tuesday night, and when
he appeared he was not prepared to make a
statement. Mr.. Mellet met the committee
on Wednesday night and his proposition was
on the secretary's table. 1t was read as
follows
! Gentlemen We, the undersigned, hereby
/ make application to lease the Shenandoah
Borough Water Works for the term of ten
years, with the privilege of an additional
| ten years, upon the same terms and condi-
| lions. We stand ready to enter into q bond
/ the amount of which to be determined and
approved by the said Council, for the prompt
and faithful payment, at the end Of each
year, OF the interest on the then outstanding
/ water bonds
And in addition thereto, we propose to
| pay said borough the sum of five thousand
| NSh,OOO) dollars in cash each and every year
also to give the borough free use of water for
all fire purposes and free use of water for
all school purposes and not to charge more
than hfty (5O) cents per month for water for
family purposes.
And during the whole of the continuance
| OF said lease to keep and maintain said bor-
ough water works in good condition, and at
the final termination of said lease to yield
up and surrender the possession of said bor-
ough water works, with all matters and
things relating thereto unto the said Bor-
0ugh OF Shenandoah, in the same good order
ana condition as the same now are, without
farther notice. reasonable wear and tear
tnere9i' or other necessary casualties ex.
cepted. Respectfully submitted,
7. J. FERGUSON,
NJ. MELLEr.
Shenandoah, Pa, July 60 1899.
MIR. Bell then read the following as the
wster committees report on the proposition
To the Members Of the Borough Council.
Gentlemen We, the undersigned men,
bers Of your Water Committee, having care
fully considered the propositions submitted
by private parties who desire to control the
water supply of the Borough, report that we
think It unadvisable for Council to relinuuisb
control Of the Borough plant in any manner.
or for any confederation, and thereby de-
prive the people Of advantages which op.
preston obliged them to obtain for them
selves.
To sustain our position and refute the claim
that the plant does not pay. we offer the fol.
lowing statistics and estimates The water
duplicate shows an income Of Sl3, 442. .OS: its
actual running expenses last year were S13,-
600, leaving net profit in this department of
S442 .OS. To this must be added the saving
on fifty fire plugs at $50 each. or 81 600; and
sixty schools a. 81 90 each per month, or s72O.
These figures then, would fully fortify US
IN our position, as they show saving and
gain Of S2, 1852 Os annually to the Borough
directly, and To the taxpayers indirectly
But there are other advantages which neces-
saTily result from the existence of the Bor-
ough plant and they are the reduction in
water rent and fire insurance, to which
might also be added the immunity of fire
companies, their houses and horses from
water rent.
We will make no further mention of the
latter, but OF the other two we will offer the
following estimates The water rent was
reduced to one-half, and that alone resulted
In saving of 25 cents per month to every
family in the town irrespective of whether
they were connected with the Borough works
Likewise was the rate for horses. cows. stores
pave washes and all other things for which
water rent is charged. reduced to half the
former amount. This saying to the people
directly, amounts to the combined present
incomes Of both the old and the new water
works; that is, the amount of the water
duplicate increased by the income of the old
company which would be equal to about one
third, or in all S417, ,922.7T.
In the matter Of insurance, too, the reduc
tion is significant it being from 25 to 80 per
cent. lower than before the new water
started. Besides this reduction, some people
are so confident Of the efficiency of the water
supply 10 combat the flames that they have
dropped their insurance altogether. In in
surance alone. it can be therefore safely es-
tmsted that the saving to the property
tQ az az
To summarize, we would say that the
saving to the people is In net profits, fire
plugs and schools $2, 1872 Os; by reduction in
water rent, sl7,922.77; by reduction in in
suTance, &c, O0OOi or total saving of
$50, 0S4.S5.
This may seem fabulous and hard to believe.
but few moments thought will make the
matter clear; The saving on the duplicate,
hreplugs and schools and on insurance Is
plain enough and the other is but the neces-
sary result Of reduction of one half To
exemplify; If the people of town pay water
rent TO the Borough and the old company
ana that rent being but one half of wEat
they formerly paid, equals 81, ,922 n, then
the saving is equal to that sum.
The Board Of Health, on page of their
last annual report, gives testimony to the
efficiency of the purity and wholesomeness of
our water supply as combattant to disease.
Taking these things into consideration. we
see no reason why Council, now or at anv
other time, should pay any attention TO a
claim so untenable as that made by parties |
whose interests are diverse to those of the |
Borough. The public water works stand to-
day as a monument to the wisdom of the |
people and as an everlasting rebuke to the
grasping proclivity of a corporation. We feel
1t our duty to add a word of warning and
caution to the people that if they do not wish
TO pay triple water rates they must hold to
the public plant at any cost.
Respectfully,
THOMAS j. TRACY,
JosEEH w. BELL,
PATRICK HAND
Mr.. Harkins moved that the committees
report be accepted and the proposition be |
laid on the table indefinitely.
Mr.. James opened an attack on the report |
of the committee, stating that it omitted |
several important items the taxpayers are /
footing, including the 5 mile water tax, which |
amounts to about S1l 800
Mr.. Boehm said he did not sign the report
because he did not believe in it. Every esti- |
mate that has been made on the water plant
has been wrong. The original projectors
Of the plant said it would take "a, 900 gallons
of water per day to supply the town, but the
plant is pumping 81, ,25O, 900, and all eonnee-
tions are not on the plant. They said four
tons OF coal would run the plant aud it takes
nearer twelve tons. The report Of the |
Borough Auditors show that the total collec. |
tions Of wator rents have been $l2, 900, while |
the running expenses are $4,000. The re- |
port does not show where the plant is paving
or going to pay.
Mr.. Hand disputed Mr.. Boehm's statement