The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-06-16
For the Democratic Advocate.
What $40. 900 Gould Do.

MEssRs EDIToRs: / noticed in your last
issue an account of the incorporation OF a
company whose chief object is to furnish
water to the city of Westminster and the in
habitants thereof. 1t occurs to me that two
water companies cannot exist In SO small q
place as Westminster. / am in no way con-
nected with the present company, and know
nothing of its receipts and expenditures or the
number of patrons it has. | believe, how
ever, that for some years no dividends were
paid upon the stock, and but two have been
paid under the present management, when
has had to expend a considerable amount IN
improvements fl an correct in this, it 10
reasonably sure that another company would
not fare any better.
If the water business of the town will not
support properly a company with $4O, 600 cap
ital, what can be the result if another com
pany with $40,O 600 capital enters the field
Should it succeed in getting two thirds of new
business and get one-third Of the business of
the present or old company, | can see moth
ing in the future but $80,e0 making no re-
turn to stockholders. Competition may
cheaper water to consumers, which would be
a benefit to water users, but we do not belleye
the citizens of Westminster want to profit at
the expense of men with enterprise enough to
put their money in public Improvements.
Every person is entitled to n fair return for
money invested, just as every merchant IS en- :
titled to profit upon his goods and every
mechanic and laboring man to living wages.
The present water company supplies the
people with pure water and in ample abund
ance, and in all its existence has always main
tanned a supply equal to all demands when
fires have occurred. The rates may be high,
as compared to rents elsewhere, but so has
been the price of gas. Gas at one time was
800 thousand feet. The management
have gradually reduced it to $500, which is
still rs cents higher than is charged in many
other places. Still, the company pays but 3
per cent. annual dividend, and no one, so
far, has thought of starting another gas com
pany. 1t would not be fair to do so. If one
gas company cannot pay more than 8 per
cent. upon its stock, the Inauguration OF a
new company would result in neither making
any return to stockholders. 1t would be just
the same with two water companies-neither
paying dividends on stock.
Westminster has excellent gas, pure water,
ice equal to any manufactured and an cleo
Iric light plant that furnishes excellent light.
None of these industries pay much return TO
stockholders, but they are a comfort to the
citizens and give to every visitor to the city
good impressions of Westminster. In these
lines of enterprise nothing more is needed,
except cheaper rates, and these will come IN
time To undertake to duplicate any one OF
these plants means II total loss TO the old and
the duplicate.
am very glad to see the gentlemen con-
necfed with the new water company taking an
interest in Westminster. Their enterprise,
however, it seems to me, is misdirected.
What Westminster needs is some manufactor
les, 10 give employment TO labor. 1t needs
houses, small and neat, and furnished, for
summer guests Forty thousand dollars
would start at least four small industries, EN-
ploying from 20 to 25 persons. Forty thous.
and dollars would purchase eligible sites and
erect and furnish forty summer cottages, and
forty families, spending from four to SIX
months here, would benefit every business man
in Westminster, and materially aid the gas,
water and ice companies. Forty thousand
dollars put into the proposed railroad from
Washington, via Westminster, to Gettysburg,
would almost insure its building.
Don't destroy what we have by competition
Rather, let new enterprises be started. A
community as small as this should be u unit
in energy and progress, rather than have
clashing interests aud death dealing compet
ton. ENTERPRISE
Westminster, June IS.