The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-01-04
PRESENT STATUS OF THE
WATER WORKS MATTER

ton of water and the growing de
mands of the city would still make =
new plant a necessity, to say nothing
of the inadequate FIRE protection, which
would be further impaired by the
enormous increased use of water.
Status Of Municipal Ownership.
Four years ago the citizens secured
the enactment of legislation to enable
the city to buy or build waterworks
Later bonds we're voted for this pur
pose but for various reasons the
bonds have NOT been sold. There is
no prospect of the bonds being sold
until after the legislature meets and
amends the enabling act. Should the
legislature amend the law so that the
bonds would be Nxeadily saleable it is
not probable that anything would be
done until after the city election
which will occur next June, for IL is
scarcely possible the matter would re
ceive serious attention in the midst oil
heated campaign. After the cleo
ton it Is hard TO surmise what steps
may be taken to prevent the issue OF
bonds or the establishment OF a mu'
nicipal plant, for there are some who
are opposed TO 1t and some of the op
posers have influence and other op
posers have money.
Admitting the opposition would
have no power to impede the es9tb
lishment of municipal plant, the le
gal process would be tedious. A
change of the Law would require a
new ordinance and a new election. foI
past election could not very well be
construed as passing upon new ques
lions and new conditions. To say the
least IL would impair the question Ia
such an extent as to injure the sale
Of the bonds.
Now, for a matter of information
let us get at the probable time il
would take to get started on building
a municipal plant. ! will give all ben
efit to that side and will start in by
supposing that mayor and council
will be elected who are heartily in
favor of 3 municipal plant and are not
only in favor of getting it but getting
II at the earliest possible moment.
VIII further suppose these gentlemen
to be active people who favor doins
things now instead of during the
next administration and getting Il
done before the present generation
are all dead and gone. With this &C.
tive set OF officers let us begin.
Let us suppose that at the first
meeting of the council in June an or.
dinance will be introduced providing
for an issue of bonds. II it takes its
mil
part Of September 1905, before 1t is
passed. Then if it has to be published
four weeks it will be the last of Octo
Der, 1908. Then comes an election
and and results which will consume
another month, making it the end OF
the year. Then the board of trustees
must advertise for bids on the bonds
for three months, which would carry
the matter to the last of March, 1906
and II not successful must advertise
another three months. But we will
suppose they are successful. Then
the bonds must be formulated and en-.
sraved which will probably take an.
other three months, which will make
it, at reasonable calculation. June
1906, before actual construction can
be begun.
Thus II will be seen that at a rea.
sonaole calculation it would be eigh.
teen months before a municipal plant
could be begun, hut judging from the
manner of doing things it would prob.
ably be much longer.
New Plan for Waterworks.
The new plan TO give the city an
efficient system of waterworks at the
earliest possible date, for which an
ordinance has already been introduc.
ed. is as follows:
A private company to be organized
with as much. local capital as possible
To construct an efficient plant during
the coming year The said plant 10
nave a daily capacity of six million
gallons and a FIRE service of 15O
pounds. Said company to not charge
more than fifteen cents a thousand
gallons for water and to be allowed a
minimum charge of City cents a month
Tor each building for water including
meter. Provision is made in the said
ordinance for the city to purchase
said plant at any time, either before
OF after completion, by paying the
cost OF the same plus one years inter.
est on the invest ment.
This plan enables a waterworks to
ne begun so soon as a franchise is
granted, and If there be no unnecessa.
~ or unforeseen delay such plant NAV
be in operation next fall.
Collection of Data.
4 nave spent considerable time on
this matter and have succeeded in oh.
tanning valuable data. | have probably
accomplished all that could be reason.
ably expected without a personal visit
TO number Of successful waterworks
o. various cities, am still compiling
Data and shall. soon be ready to sub
mt the matter to interested parties.