The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1900-08-16
Investigation is Decidedly Against
Private Water Corporation.
PRIVATEPL DISAPPEARING
Statistics Show Public Ownership to Have
Double the Advantages to City
Residents,

Hon. August Hermann, water COM
msser of Cincinnati, Ohio, prepared
long report on the water plants Of
the United States, and read the same
at the last session of the American
Society of Municipal Improvements
amongst which are found the follow
ing data:
OF the 81 cities in the United
States over 80, 600 population, all are
inc luded in the report except Wash
ington, D G. No report was receiv-
ed from Worcester, Denver or San
Francisco
The following cities were taken
where municipal ownership prevails:
Detroit Buffalo, Toledo, Chicago,
Kansas City, Philadelphia, Syracuse,
Cleveland, Albany, Louisville, Balti-
more, Milwaukee, Columbus, o., st.
Paul, Minneapolis, Pit,sburg, Nash
vile, Cincinnati, Newark, Allegheny,
Rochester, St. Louis, Omaha, Boston,
New York, Providence, and also
Indianapolis and New Orleans,
private companies.
The rates Of water in these cities
varies from 81 1910 $11.22 per 100
feet. The lowest is Detroit and the
highest is New Orleans
Each city has it dwelling house rate.
Chicago, Baltimore, Albany, Kansas
City and Brooklyn make no addition
al rate for the first bath, closet, and
washstand, while each of the other
cities charge extra. y.
OF these cities 2I must pump their
water. Five received their by
gravity: Newark, Jersey City, Boston,
New York and Syracuse Five cities
receive part by gravity and pump
, part OFF Two cities do no pump
ing at all. Ten pump into reservoirs,
seven into supply pipes direct, and
seven partly to reservoirs and partly
/. to standpipes, ETC.
) Nineteen of these cities make no
r attempt tn purify their water, six
are now taking steps in that direction
and five purify their water.
j Twenty of these cities pay for
I water main extensions of of the re-
. venues OF the water department, three
: by assessment against abutting prop
e erty, and eight by assessing part,
i. paying part out Of the revenues, or
I by direct taxation.
! Nineteen of these cities provide
!; for interest and sinking fund out OF
:. the water revenues, four provide
: same from revenues and taxation
. . combined and five wholly bv taxation.
e Of these cities nine allow dis
!, !, count if bills are paid promptly,
=; twenty -one allow no discount, and
# six exact penalty for la'e payment.
D. All OF the answers received as tC
II whether or not the water department
,r was self sustaining, are answered The
Q. affirmative
lie or these thirty cities, only two
10 plants are owned by private compan
e les, being those Of Indianapois ant
e. New Orleans. The mayor of Indian
- apohs has prepared a plan for nun
it icipal ownership by paving part O.
u u the purchase price down, and part IL
I'd years to come, hut no agreement IL
ae the matter has as yet been reached
re New Orleans pays the highest waite
e rates of any city in the list.
he Jersey City, N ] pe,s $7,b95,
~ ~ 600 for its plant The committee il
It's Burlington, Iowa, reported the valu
10 no of their plant 1856. 800. WALL
hit Walla plant was bought at $3.50, 600
u" San Luis Obispo pays $3.50, 1000 fo