The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-29

ing tn Popularity.
Engineering News.
Municipal ownership of water works In
practically all the large cities Of the United
States bids fair TO be the rule q few years
hence. Memphis, Tenn, has just acquired
the plant owned for some years past by the
Artesian Water Company. This reduces to
nine the cities Of the United states Of over
100000 population whose water works are
still under private ownership. The nine
Cities in order OF their size, in 800. are: San
Francisco. New Orleans Indianapolis. Dem
yer, New Haven, Paterson. st. Joseph. oma-
ha and Scranton. Two of these, New Or
leans and Omaha. are already committed TO
municipal ownership. and for years there
has been strong movement in that direc-
ton at San Francisco. Agitation to the same
end was also very much in evidence at In
dianapois and Denver a few years ago. The
cities of 10000 population or over numbered
IS in 1900. OF which % now own their own
water works. In the same year there were
81 cities with populations ranging from l0o.-
0oo TO $1,000. and of those nearly 20 own
works, while a number OF others are making
more or less rapid progress towards NUM-
cipal ownership. Unless the tide turns. and
there certainly is no indication OF II, 20 TO
rs years hence will show but few cities or
vate companies.
Why are changes to public ownership
so common, and why are they so much more
numerous in the case OF water works than
in other classes Of public utilities? The an
iswer to both these questions is that water
supply is so essential to the general pros
perity Of a community, and so closely re-
lated to the comfort and health OF every
citizen, as to give rise TO an even stronger
feeling that It's supply should not be In
trusted 10 those whose primary object IL
profit As an abstract proposition this can
not be successfully disputed Arguments In
plenty there are In support Of the contention
that a private water company, either
through selfish interests or by mesns OF pub
lie regulation. can meet all the wants OF q
community as cheaply and as well as the
community itself, but the public cannot
ness will here 60 hand in hand. Aside from
this lack OF confidence there IL strcng
feeling, whether based on prejudice or rea-
son, that private water companies take adj
vantage Of the fact that their customers
at their mercy, and treat them with
scant courtesy, to say the least. The public
generally has an exaggerated idea or the
profits made by water companies and other
public-service corporations. Publicity of ac-
counts would do much to rectify this belief.
and this, combined with proper pub
would do far more These two re-
FORMS combined with more consid-
crate treatment OF customers by companies.
might have stopped many move for public
erful now they are well worthy OF more Sc
rious consideration than has yet been given
to them by private companies.
Beneficial as municipal ownership may be.
no one would object to having its progress
checked somewhat By such methods as
these. Many of our cities need other re-
forms quite as much a change 10 muni-
cipal ownership Of water works, and In such
cases amelioration of the evils of private
ownership might leave the city free 20 enter
upon other work for the benefit Of Its citi-
zens.