Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-05-24
Water Works.

mOnuay tne 10Th, 10 decide the question
whether we will have water works, or
whether we will continue to dare the
fates and 90 dry. There are many in
favor Of issuing bonds for this purpose
and some who are not. The time is
short when the contest will be on and
the extremes will meet. as the devil said
when he picked his teeth with his tail.
/ heard one Of these hard headed citi-
zens express himself the other day on
the street, n who Is constitutionally
opposed TO all improvements, all ad
yancement. One who has got into a
rut and has got so used to running in it
that he don't want to get out Of it and
cannot bear the idea Of Il change of Any
kind. Whats the use OF having wafer
works any how, it only makes US pay
higher taxes, and taxes "is high enough
already. If people want water let them
get it out Of their wells just like they
have always done" That is their idea
and hat is as far as they can see or want
to see But there is another side to this
question, and we propose to take a glance
at it, and see if the benefits will not oyer
balance this small matter Of the in
creased taxes.
Foremost and uppermost comes the
question OF protection from fire. Gus.
ter within the last very few years has
bad five fires and these have all been
damaging and far reaching in their cal.
amitous effect. We have not the data at
hand to give the exact figures of these
damages but suffice it that they run into
the hundreds OF thousands ofdollars and
made the insurance companies feel pretty
tired. Any Of these fires might have
been prevented, or at least confined TO
the building where it started, with just
a little water to play on it at its incipi-
ency. That is benefit No. /.
The next is the difference we have to
pay in insurance. In early days the
charges were about 3 per cent, now it
run as high az s per cent which is al.
most equivalent to saying that we shall
haye no insurance at all, as none can af-
ford TO pay such rates. The aggregate
amount Of insurance carried by our citi-
gems at this time is about 100000. This
at s per cent per annum would amount
to IS, 100000. 1t is calculated that with
water works this rate would be reduced
one half which would be a saving Of
100000 per year, which would alone
pay for the water works in about three
years. This is benefit No. 2.
Next comes the benefit derived from
the profits which would accrue from hav
ing water for watering our gardens which
in some dry years is a matter of no small
amount, which, together with the con.
yenience Of having water in the house
always at hand may be set down as
benefit No. 8.
Next is the question Of having shade
trees along each side Of the streets on
the main thoroughfares. This Of course
is not q source Of profit, adds to the
beauty of our town and make it attrac-
tive to those who seek a pleasant place
to live. "a thing Of beauty is a JOY for.
ever. This is benefit No. A..
We come o TO the effect that these
benefits will have upon real estate and
town lots. 1t is difficult to make an es-
innate Of how much water works will
enhance the price Of property in the
town, but it would add to its value large
ly and should not 90 unreckoned. This
is benefit No. 5. There are many more
minor benefits such as the possibility Of
utilizing the water to run light machin-
cry, sanitation and cleanliness, ETC., but
we will not carry our enumeration fur.
Their. We haye enough already to set
tie the matter in my mind that any, even
the least Of these five benefits fully JUS
tify the installment of water works in
Custer. IL is a burning shame upon us,
and a reflection upon our intelligence
and enterprise as we'll that we have not
inaugurated this Improvement long ago,
especially when it can be done so easily
and at so little cost. And what is the
cost Of all the benefits / have mention
ed. The bonds carry an interest of s
per cent and we understand from those
who have taken the pains to figure it out
that it would amount to about 81 90 each
per annum when DIVIDED among the
number of taxpayers in the town. This
is a small amount and the advance or
real estate would more than pay it, and
as the bonds have 20 years to run, and
it is probable that in that length of time
that we may have 5000 or more people
living in the town, who will bear theil
due proportion of the debt when the
bonds mature. | think we can stand
that and never feel it, while the
benefits We would feel every day Of oul
lives. Altogether it is pretty much Of
one sided question and the water work.
should receive in its favor almost
unanimous vote.
&. W. ROBBINS.
If you are not pleased with the bread