Arizona republican., 1903-05-09
The Proposed Improvements.

= lican we print letter from the Broad way Bank and Trust Company of Los Angeles in reference to the proposed improvements in the plant of the Phoenix Water Company. Of course, the first comment by citizens of Phoe- nix will be that the information con- tained in the letter is important if true" Fortunately, there appears toI be no reason to doubt the truthfulness of the statements made. MT. Warren Gillelen, the writer of the communica- tion, is a gentleman of high standing, and nobody who knows him would think of doubting his word. His bank. as he explains, is trustee for the bond holders of the Phoenix Water Company. and he is in position to know all about the affairs of the company and what it intends to do.
 Recently, our readers will remember. MT. Sherman, the principal owner in the water company. had published in The Republican a communication to the people of Phoenix. in which he stated positively that improvements in the local plant would shortly be made at cost of O,0OO, making it a thor oughly modern and efficient system of water works. President Gillelen now says:
 We read the statement made by NJ. II. sherman and his assurance to you that the water works plant would be at once rebuilt and extended. The Broadway Bank and Trust Company will vouch for every statement made by MT. Sherman in this matter"
 It is exceedingly gratifying to have this assurance that Phoenix is to have at last an efficient and modern water plant instead of the makeshift which MT. sherman has given the city for years. Failure to give decent service has aroused revolt in which practi- cally every citizen has shared. At the late bond election the municipal owner ship proposition fell short of the nec- essary two-thirds majority by but twenty-five or thirty votes. MT. Sher- man undoubtedly saw that if existing conditions were permitted to continue, the inves tments of himself and his as sociates in the water works would be swept away in a flood Of ballots at the next election. It is TOW a matter of self-preservation for the Phoenix Water Company. It may be that an expendi- ture of $15O,OOO in rebuilding and ex- tending the system will make the total investment a losing one for the com pany for some years to come; but, on the other hand, the assured future oc the city more than justifies the out lay-and the alternative is the practi- cal destruction of the investment as it stands.
 If MT sherman in good faith re- builds the system putting in larger mains of standard quality, which will give constant and satisfactory ser vice. and which will sustain a pressure that will afford complete protection from fire, we expect to see the move ment for public ownership lose much of its force. Indeed, as stated here tofore, we do not believe that ten per cent of the taxpayers care particularly whether the city's water system is owned by the municipality or a private corporation during the next few years provided the service is what it should be; provided the system is rebuilt with out exacting terms in return from the city. and provided there is no increase in rates. Everybody recognizes that a much broader horizon is opening in front of Phoenix. Storage of water for irrigation will bring such an influx of population into the valley that within five years after the government finishes the Tonto reservoir this city will have a population of 5O.OOO. We confidently expect to see it 25,OOO within three years from this date. Before that time We shall he on a transcontincntal line ot railway. sugar factories and other in dustries employing labor will be in oper- ation, and in short the Phoenix of the immediate future will be infinitely su-