Arizona republican., 1903-04-21
Some Suggestions to Brother Sher-
man.

In another column we print today a
man to the people of Phoenix. Mr..
Sherman is the principal owner of the
Phoenix waterworks. This promise is
made:
Just as soon as possible after the
publication of this statement myself
and those who are financially interested
in the plant will submit plans at a.
meeting of citizens and taxpayers, at
which meeting we request and hope for
suggestions as to how these plans can
be improved. SO as to give Phoenix 4
most complete and satisfactory water
system
Mr.. Sherman's promise, and his state
ment which precedes it, do not possess
the elements of freshness. That the
water company is inclined to be con-
sentative in the production of literature
is clear, from the fact that the commu-
nication to which we give space today
is substantially if not literally the same
communication and the same promise
which was made to the people of Pnoe-
nix two years ago, at the time of the
former election to determine whether
the city would issue its bonds for mu-
nicipal water plant. And here vs.
touch the nerve which has given SO
much pain to the people as well as TO
Mr.. Sherman. There has been too
much of promise and too little of per-
formance The whole movement 70?
municipal ownership had its inception
in the failure, and repeated failure, of
the water company to provide a. salts
factory service.
The sentiment in favor of public own
ership has not been based on any flnan-
cial question SO much as on the naked
need of a modern system of water
works. The earning capacity of
money actually invested cannot be any
greater in the hands of a municipality
than in the hands of a we'll managed
corpora tion-it is an open question
whether public ownership can be as
economical as private ownership. IN
questionably, an overwhelming ma
jority of the taxpayers of Phoenix are
in favor of municipal ownership, anG
they take this position simply because
they want better water service. Bu-,
were the Phoenix Water company now
operating a modern plant and giving
the people an entirely satisfactory
service and the best possible protection
fra ic f11lT whether IN
cent of the electorate would care to
change to a system of municipal owner
ship
Whether Mr.. Sherman can bring this
sentiment around to favor his side OF
the question remains to be seen He
certainly cannot do it by promises, or
even half-performed promises, for the
promises of the water company are at a
decided discount. 1t is begging the
question to say that the company cam
not we'll go ahead with needed improve
ments while the agitation for public
ownership continues. The company
itself is responsible for this agitation
1t can weaken the movement for a city
water plant only by making good its
promises. If Mr.. Sherman and his
associates have not the nerve to &c
ahead and make the necessary i'm
provements in the face of this adverse
sentiment, they need not hope that any
time in the future will be more auspi-
cious for them. Public liberation of 4
jim-crow water plant will grow 1es-
patient as time goes on
And, as we have heretofore stated. no
piecemeal. patchwork plan of rehabill-
tation will do. There must be no
counting of nickels. Larger mains, of
standard water pipe, must be put in
The renovation must be so complete az
to remove the impression that many OF
the mains are composed of stove-pipe
Such material must be used as will PEI
nit necessary fire pressure. AS it |: