The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-30
WOULD EXTEND.
Water Mains Should Be Laid in
Fifth Ward. l1
Opinion of Chairman NeWland
of WaterWOrks Board.
BONDS IF NECESSARY.
Should Be No Delay in Reaching
Dry Districts.
Meter SystemShould Be Adopted
Without Exception.
IF NECESSARY.

To vote additional bonds to take
care of needed extensions in the dry
districts:
To place the customers of the water
works department upon the meter
system without exception, are some of
the recommendations which the board
of waterworks commissioners will
probably make to the council.
The board meets this evening to
transact the routine business which
comes before it and also to issue re-
port of recommendations to the city
council.
Frank Newland. president of the
board, said today: 81 am strictly in
favor of taking care of these people
who are in the part of the city yet I'M
served by the plant and who have
been paying taxes all these years for
public improvements. Yet we can not
take care of them until we are in A
position to supply their wants. We
first will have to take the choke out
of the main at West and Fifth streets,
arrange for additional wells and in
crease the boiler capacity before we
can hope to take care of the patrons
who desire extensions. To do this 1
believe that the improvements in the
plus income which accrues and that ex-
tensions should be arranged for by
issuing bonds. There is no other solu-
ton. l don't know what the exact
OF tn6 DOnQ issue SnOulQ De,
that is matter which will have to be
determined upon a careful examina-
ton. There are conditions and circum-
stances existing which I had no idea
existed. 1 believe that the plant can
be made to pay and prove to be
profitable investment but 1 believe
that the city should have never ac-
quired possession of it the way it stood.
am believer in the municipal own
ship idea, however, and have con-
fidence in the ultimate outcome.
It am continually harassed by people
who want the mains extended to their
properties. 1 don't blame them for
wanting it. They have been paying
taxes for this protection and they
should have it. There is not a question
in my mind that we will have to abol-
ish the flat rates which are now in eff
feet and place every customer on
meter basis 1 have received q number
of reports from the secretaries of
various boards of water works trustees
in cities over the United States and I
find that the cost of pumpage is de-
creased and the supply is increased in
every instance by the establishment of
the meter system. I believe that we
will have to come to this. There is
useless waste of water by the patrons
who are on flat basis. Certain people
pay for this waste and others go ex-
empt Every one should pay for what
he uses and no more, that is the only
right method. Probably with the es-
tablishment of meter system we can re-
duce the rates somewhat The rates
certainly will not be raised. If we can
reduce them by this system we will do
it.
In addition we will probably take
up the question of regulating the de-
partrnent and the use of the water by
the customers. These rules are similar
in use in all cities where there are mum
icipal plants and we will adopt some
similar system of government.
0af "a CT n
which Superintendent Shaw will return
to US this evening regarding the neces-
sary improvements needed to put the
plant in good condition. We have re-
ceived most of these estimates already
but he will submit an estimate for the
cost of purchasing twenty-five driven
points. We want to get at these i'm
proven ents as soon as possible, as 1T
is costing us SO day to keep that
Harrison street station open. This is
needed now under the circumstances,
but it is bad business policy to keep up
this drain.
ST had no conception of the amount
of work which devolved upon the
members of the board until 1 took
hold. Now I am beginning to realize
what 1t means. 1 am in favor and will
probably. do so, of calling meetings of
the board every few days until we have
got some of these big matters off our
hands and settled"
Superintendent Shaw stated this
morning that the cost of the addition
al driven points would represent from
/ $4,000 to $4,000. ''This will increase
the capacity of the plant" said he
1.-The new points will be six inches in
| diameter where the old ones are but
four inches. There are twenty-four
points now in use and the new ones
will largely take the place of the old
ones"
Councilman s. T. Howe. who repre-
sents the section of the Fifth ward
which is clamoring for extensions, said
| today: ''I am in favor of issuing
bonds to cover the cost of these ex-
tensions, if it is found necessary to Sc
cure the money that way. It is an out
rage for the people to pay for fire pro-
lection out there and then force them
to stand idly by and watch their homes
go up in smoke. They are entitled to
4 the extensions"
Chipnlunk's BraZen Treasure.
Pittston. Pa, Aug. 3O.-Frank Nc
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