Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-17

With these low schedules of rates in
force, each town owning it's works is
accommodating a sinking fund.- which be-
fore many years will extinguish the
water debt leaving the plant as an I'M
incumbered asset.
In the third annual report of the Au-
burn water commissioners for 1896 it
is said: The commissioners deem it a
matter of congratulation to all concern
ed that since the city came into possess
sion of the water works less than three
years ago, there has been a reduction
OF rates now aggregating $4,000 yearly
A happy feature of this large eduction
is that it has not resulted in a material
reduction Of revenue owing to the fact
that reduced rates lead to a more gen.
eral use of water for special purposes.
some of which are for lawns, gardens.
Two years later, their report contains
this sentence: Notwithstanding the
large reductions that have hitherto
been made in water rates, the COM
mlsSlonarS have voted q further reduc-
ton to take effct May LIST, as follows:
Hydrants from $40 to $50; hoses from
SO to 50; and 81 to 81; and a reduc-
ton on the meter rates of .02 per 100
cubic feet of water used, making a re-
duction for the coming year of over
$4,000, and a total yearly reduction of
over $1,000 from the established rates
when the city became owners of the
plant, and with this large reduction our
receipts for the year ending March
list, 1898, are fully as large as any
previous year. showing that a reduction
in water rates does not necessarily
mean a reduction of receipts.
The next year, 1899, after six years
they made the following
statement:
1.-THE successful " orking of our water
system demonstrates from year to year
me wisdom of municipal ownership
It's beneficent consequences are out
running the anticipations of it's most
ardent supporters at the start. Not
the substantial reduction
Of the rates made year ago, amount
ing to more than $4,000, the net income
for the year just closed exceeds that
Of the preceding year."
A normal public plant gravitates to
a lower rate level than a normal pri-
vate plant. because the latter aims at
profit while the former aims at service,
and the rate level for the greatest ser
vice is much lower than the rate level |
for the largest profits. Moreover pub |
lie ownership under good management |
IS able to achieve many absolute econo- |
mics, not merely making lower rates |
but producing at lower cost and saw |
ng industrial force. Some of the rea-
sons for the great economies effected |
oy public ownership are as follows:
/. Public ownership has no third |
house to nay.
2. Nor dividends on watered stock to
pay.
8. Nor overgrown salaries.
4. 1t saves on interests and insur-
lnce.
5. On the personal interest of citi-
zens and the higher efficiency of better
laid and more contentcd labor.
In general the following results follow
public ownership for the public: Less
,ost for workingmen more wages and
ess hours, for all better service.
Charles w. Edwards, financial secre-
airy Of the Central Labor Union, voiced
he plea of the laboring men that they
iced relief from present conditions,
such as only this bill seems to afford
means of obtaining.
Thomas j. Lynch, Esq, the author
If the bill before the Legislature, was
,iven rouSing ovation. He asked for
rising vote on the sentiment of the
Meeting toward this bill, and nearly
rose to the vote in favor.
Nobody cared to vote against it. Mayor
robertson adjourned the meeting at
AS o'clock.