The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-12
Municipal Water Plants.

Municipal Water Plants.
Both the friends and the opponents OF
municipal ownership OF water. gas and
electric light plants can find figures
upon which to base their arguments In
the recently published Fourteenth An
nuai Report OF the Commissioner Of La
Dor, which II devoted entirely to the
compilation Of figures covering the cost
Of maintenance and original investment.
quality u service and cost to the public
OF various Of these quasi-public utni-
ties. both under private ownership and
under ownership by the municipalities
A. far ~ the water companies are
concerned. the figures certainly show
that the cost 10 the private consumer
and to the public user Ia. a. a SUBJ
stsntialiy uniform rule. less under mu-
nicipai ownership than under private.
and iufsrentiaily that the service is at
least AZ good in the former case as In
the latter Even n the cost were great
er. However. there are still many argu-
msnts in favor OF the public ownership
OF water plants. which do not necessar-
lily apply TO tho other utilities. These
arguments have proven sufficiently
stronG to influence the majority Of the
municipalities In the United states to
own their own plants; and according 10
the nGurcs complied In the report. to-
day 1878 per cent Of all the water
works In the United States are owned
by the public. while but 1927 per cent.
remain IN private ownership. II may
Be interesting. In this connection. TO
note that. on tho other hand. the pri-
vate companies own and operate pss5
per cent. OF the gas companies and $3.50
per cent. of tho electric light plants
The management and control OF wa.
ter works Is properly matter OF public
duty becauss there is much more In
VOWED in Il than the mere distribution
Of water among the Inhabitants or the
city. Entirely aside from the domestic
use OF water. II Is an essential for fire
protection and for proper sanitation.
both duties which are essentially public
In their character. and which as noe
cssariiy dcyolve upon the municipality
10 perform as the duty OF preserving
the public peace by the maintenance OF
a police force. The business % supply
inx the Inhabitants Of the city inavid-
ually with water for domestic use
might be no part OF the public duty.
any more than the supplying OF them
with fuel. but the necessity Of estab-
fishing water plant for puhilc use
renders II a matter % economy and con-
venlenee and. In eases OF necessity. 20
take over the private business alse CIT
les are rarely 30 situated taat they have
mere than enc good. available and SUI
fleient source Of supply for their water
As the public has the prior right to ac-
aulrr that source % supply for the pub
10 use. u necessarily takes over the
obligation 20 supply sufficient Tor pFi-
waite use nom the same source.
IL IL a somewhat remarkable show
ing IN the figures compiled by the hu-
reaa Of labor thar. In the great majority
~ cases, the salary cost per thousand
gallons Of water Il greater under pri-
vats ownership thap under municipal
ownership Under the head 81 salaries
IL ciassea the cost ~ spporiutenatnce.
clerical hire and services OF that char.
seter. while wages come under differ
ent head In the great majority ~
cases the wage cost Is greater Ia the
municipal plants than In those held In
private ownership,
As to the comparative cost Of orisi-
nal construction under private or mu-
nlelpal ownership. the opportunities FOR
comparison are not good. because IN
no two Instances are the conditions pre-
scented closely parallel The nature of
the plant, the distance from the source
OF supply. the manner OF operation.
whether BY gravity or by pumping, aud
many issms OF like nature which enter