The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-12-26

anything but temptation"
A well-known clergyman favors
municipal ownership, but objects to the
purchase of the Scranton Gas and
| Water companys plant on moral
grounds.
II think the best interests of the city,
public and private, would be best served
| and promoted by municipal ownership,
| for obvious reasons" he writes. "Pur-
chasing the plant of the Scranton Gas
| and Water company would be unfair,
| and a violation of implied faith, which
| neither municipality or individual could
afford to be guilty Of"
The following brief but terse letter
was received from Il leading member of
| councils.
II have your favor regarding the
question of the city owning It's own
water works ut hand and in reply
| would say that my opinion has always
been that the city should own its water
works. The only way | can see now Is
to buy the plant of the Scranton Gas
and Water company. and the sooner we
start at 1t the better
WHY HE OBJECTS.
a prominent lawyer In advancing
reasons against the ownership of a
water plant by the municipality. says:
"'rhe city should not own It's own
water system For the reason that as
| now constituted and governed the own
| crship of such q system would be in
my opinion n wheel within a wheel.
| constituting more powerful political
machine than that we now enjoy and
the taxation of our citizens would be
greatly enhanced thereby and for such
| taxation there would seem 20 be no
remedy"
a physician of wide repute expresses
| himself as opposed to municipal owner
ship in the following strain:
II am unalterably opposed to the
| public ownership of the water system
| in this city. Generally favor munich
| pal ownership of public utilities but
| with the experience we have had in the
| past. which we have at present and
| which we will in all human probability
have in the future with the majority
of our councilmen, am unable to con-
ceive how any taxpayer can take the
| question of publ. ownership in this
| city in earnest"
An eX-counclnan writes as follows
after expressing his opposition to muni-
| cipal ownership:
"EXonerations from water rates.
place hunting, politics. etc, would
render a business administration next
to Impossible and rcmunerntive returns
doubtful. ."t"t"**I .hink we should go
slow and not allow Indignation OYER
tyrannous methods. or what may be
thought to be eNhorbitant rates, lead us
to enterprise which may result calam-
itously.''
LET WELL ENOUGH ALONE.
One of the cilys soundest business
men writes as follows:
I'm view of the really splendid water
supply enjoyed by our city and the fact
that for many years no one has ever
called a halt on the free and unlimited
use Of water under the worst conditions
of drought and the further fact that
prices have been as reasonable as FOR
other cities, l ain inclined to favor let
ting we'll enough alone
The letter of one of the men who have
largely contributed to make Scranton
what she is. is printed below IN full:
Replying to your circular letter of
y
first question. that I consider it very
inadvisable that the city should own
it's own water system, as under the
general conditions of municipal govern
ment the water could not be freed from
politics, and private enterprise would
give better service at q more reason
able cost, in my Judgment
admitting for 81 moment that it is
desirable forit to 60 In the water busi-
ness the only possible way for it to get
n sufficient supply of water would be
to purchase the Scranton Gas and
Water company which l do not think
could be purchased at a price that
would pay the city to undertake it. 1t
is not possible in my Judgment to get
an adequate supply of pure water out
side of that controlled by the Scranton
Gas and Water company at anything
else than Il prohibitive cost. The water
of the SuSguehunnit river would not be
suitable for domestic supply nor as
good as the present supply for steam
| purposes as it is largely impregnated
with lime.
ESTIMATE IMPOSSIBLE.
1T would be impossible for anyone Ia
make Il reasonable estimate of the
amount necessary to eXpend in order
for the city to own it's own water Sys-
tenn. On Il Sla or per cent basis on
its earning capacity, after the expenses
OF operation ana maintenance are
covered, it might he possible to get Il
fair idea of the value of the COMPANY
but it must be borne in mind that large
expenditures are necessary In any sys-
ten for new reSourvOiS new mains and
branches. to take care of the gradual
growth of the system, and this would
be practically true of the local system.
You would also have to bear in mind
in considering the Scranton Gas ana
Water company, That it has the control
ana distribution Of water not in the
power of the city to deal with.
"As Il taxpayer l should object to The
into the water business. us the con-
stunt changes OF administration and
employees connected with this service
would undoubtedly result in inefficient
service and greatly increased cost to
the consumer or taxpayer"
The letters keep coming in with every
mail and the recorder cannot help but
secure many valuable suggestions from
them.
CAR SHORTAGE GROWS WORSE.