Arizona republican., 1903-12-04
The Business Side of the Water
 Question.

What sensible business man in PhOe-
 nix would do as the city is asked to dc in the matte- of this vaterworks bonds proposition? In all Phoenix there is nor a level-headed man of business who would consider for an instant the borrowing individually of Three Hundred Thousand dollars or any oth- CT sum-at this time-cor the purpose of investing the same in a duplicate system of waterworks.
 IL is purely a business proposition.
 The issues must rot bs confused by consideration of matters which have nc bearing on the question. It is of no consequence whatever whether the Phoenix Water company is a popular or an unpopular corporation. It is not or the slightest significance whether Gen. NJ. H. Sherman. the principal stooKholdcr of the company. is liked or 'disliked by this or that group of citl- zens.
 Win it pay to make this investment of Three Hundred Thousand dollars and then pay interest on the debt ito the extent of Three Hundred and sev- enty-fve Thousand dollars more merely for the satisfaction of having two water systems exactly alike?
 No business man or company or bus incss men approached with a proposi- ton to borrow Three Hundred Tnous- and dolllrs wherewith to install a du- plicatc system or watcrworks would give the proposition thought if there was any knowledge or the situation. And if knowledge were lacking. inv cstIgat.on would disclose this state or facts
 That it is not question Of supplying the city with needed w waterworks. but it is problem of supplying a duplicate, Eeediess system. The company al- ready in the field has operated a plant which fell far short of the public needs. Long endurance of into'erable condi- lions grew Into indignation and de- mand for a municipal plant. in order that the people might nave enough wa ter for all purposes and protection from fire. Tardily. put nevertheless certainly. the operating comoany Inade arrangements 10 cast aside practically all of it's cid plant and substitute there. Tor completely new and modern sys- tenn. These plane are being rapidly carried out. and will be completed with in six months. The question of the company good faith can be deter mined by Inquiry at any of the city banks. The company h4s a contract with the city VhI,h calls fer the pay ment of si1OO annually for nydrant sci- vice. This contract has eleven years to rum and TO part Jf this SilC0 could be diverted 10 the new plant; the city would have to pay to the pres"n, ccin- pany this silOO year just the same. With two systems ia operation there would be competition. of course. and the new company Cor the city. if you plcasc) would be unable 10 cut rates becaucc it must get all the revenue possible whercwith to pay the operat- Ing expenses and the interest account of the water works.
 Where, then. would ba the tempia- ton for the buslness man Co go into the venture?
 Any man zane enough 70 nianags the simplest business would reject ,h, propogition 3ffhnuI Hc would regard ii as an insult to his intelligence tc ask him Go borrow at this transition stage or the city-Threc Hundred Thousand dollars for investment in a business. In | which even one company with the whole field to itself has had a strug- ElrE existence.
 Tho taxpayers Of the city are simply | business men in the mass. How un- sound Co insist that a large number of men can expect profit out of a ven turc which one business man or few business men would turn down as not worth moments thought!
 And yet. this Is the whole question. It is no longer a problem Of getting ad- equate water and complete fire pre-