The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1901-05-11
WATER AND WATER WORKS.
CoErR n'ALrNE. InAHo. Nav l.


81 the real estate within the corporal,
limits?
Second. What percen' age of this val
nation under the present Law can bond:
be issued for, for the purpose OF buyins
or constructing water works?
Third. HAS a village form of govern
ment, such as Ceur d'Alene is existing
under, the power to issue bonds Tor thi:
purpose, and where is such power con,
ferred?
Fourth. What is the estimated cost
purchasing the present water plant, OIL
what is the estimated cost of putting in
new one?
Fifth. What are the estimated re-
ceipts il the present plant is purchased
and what are the estimated receipts il
the two plants were in existence.
sixth. What is the estimated cost Of
running the water works?
Seventh. What is the estimated cost
Of repairs?
Eighth. Has any village form of gov
eminent in Idaho issued bonds for water
works purposes?
Ninth. Do you know 81 a village in
the United States with the population
and valuation of Occur d'Alene which
owns its own water works?
Tenth. As business proposition,
~ yon had the money would you bay
the present water works. or would you
build another in opposition?
Eleventh. Ii not good private in
vesimrnt, why is IA good public invest
nant? p"
The person who sent in the above
questions has failed to furnish us his
name as requested last week and we
have concluded to publish his communi
cation, even though the author NAV be
u'known. We believe, however. that he
Il rlOsely identified with the water COM
pany and is not so much OF a believer in
municipal ownership as he would have
our readers believe, or he would have no
object in concealing his identity We
have no desire to pry into his private
business, consequently may not be abe
TO answer some OF his questions, but NAV
he able to give the public some general
Information based on facts.
In answer to his FIRST question. the as
ressed valuation OF the town is over s46.-
OOl, and will this year be more than $50.
900.
Second. Under the present law. the
town can bond for Is per cent. of its real
estate valuation, Governor Hunt having
vetoed a good law permitting towns to
bond for 20 per cent OF the assessed real
estate valuation, his idea being that he
knew more about what the towns needed
than did the people living in them. The
town can bond Tor about 5000 under
the present law.
Third. A village form Of government
undoubtedly has power to bond under
the statute defining the purposes for
which bombs may be issued, the first
paragraph OF said law naming water
works as one.
Fourth. Mr.. Graham has stated III, .
the present plant can he purchased for
~ per cent. of its original cost, which /
wonld be 5000 according TO the |
OF the original owne-s. The /
'"st Of new plant would be from IS 600 .
10 $4,000, according to the size and ca.
parity Of the system.
II two plants were in existence. one
'wnel 10y the public and the other nv a
private company, the estimated receip,s
are nothing for the private plant and the
vi hole business for the public plant.
sixth. We must leave our correspond
INT o answer this question. as he NAV
know more about it than VIZ do.
Seventh. Same as sixth.
Eighth. Caldwell, Mountain Home.
WslSer, Glens Ferry and other towns
have, or are preparing to Issue bonds for
water works. some OF them no larger
han Occur d'Alene.
Ninth. In New York state alone there
ire 20 towns of less than 1000 popula.
nn with water works, many of the
ants being public and furnishing water
; families at an average of 1888 against
IN average Of s. so per year by private
plants.
T-nth. As business proposition all
would depend on the price OF the old
works. condition and business. A second
liant owned by the town would nm
loubtedly make the private plant worth.
-sS, except for scrap iron and the price
hat could be obtained for secondhand
Eleventh. What would not I've a good
'rivate investment, when owned by the
nb'ic might become paying invest
hent for the simple reason that people
fould take more interest in il. Statis-
les show conclasively that public water
Vstems derive a greater revenue at
over price for water than do private
Vstems. because more people patronize
he public institution.
We have endeavored 10 answer our
'rrespondent, and will state further ,
rat the town is not confined 10 the
ondinR system alone to pnt in water ,
orks. IL can be done by corporation
nd. turned over TO the town for opera F,
on on guarantee Of a certain per cent.