Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-09-12

of water. New ratings were then
made. according to data furnished by
the city engineer and it was found
that scarcely anyone was paying ac.
cording to the schedule given in the
ordinance controlling water rates. A
very few were paying more than they
should, but far greater number were
paying much less than the ordinance
prescribed they should pay.
"At present there has been some
needful red tape adopted. No one
can make a connection with the wa
ter mains without first securing per.
mission of the city engineer and pay
ing in advance for such fixtures as
the city furnishes. An application must
be made in writing, and licensed
plumber secured to do the work. As
soon as the work is completed and
inspected by the city engineer. the
water is turned on and a specific re-.
port made by the plumber as to Just
what the water Is used for: where.
upon the books of the water collector
show a new consumer added ans,
what he is charged for A bill is at
once sent him and he becomes ac.
quainted with the business methods
OF the LewistOwn water works. Thus
the water system is growing from
month to month; and if properly man.
aged l have no doubt will become a
source of great revenue to the city.
THE methods in vogue at the pres.
ent time are, perhaps, not all they
should be, but SO many difficulties
confronted me when | ATTEMPTED to
-
dltiOn that l am gratfied to think
they are even as good as they are.
One thing feel proud of as citizen
and taxpayer, the city is saving every
cent of income from the water sys.
TEN, and the records are in good and
permanent shape. In a very few in.
stances dissatisfaction has been evi-
denced at our methods; yet whenever
a dissatisfied party was made to see
how much more was being saved the
city. than hitherto, and all because of
those very methods, he generally was
more than satisfied.
On Firm Basis.
"The water selling business of the
city Is now upon firm and stable
basis; up-to-date business methods
are used. A card index system was
installed as soon as it could be or
dered, and set of bookkeeping adopt
ed such as will enable the taxpayers
to know just who pays and who does
not; just how much is collected, and
just how much is turned over to the
city treasurer at each monthly settle
ment.
1T may seem to a great many that
ic
yet, but time alone will tell whether
or not that be true. In considering
the profits derived, I have but set
forth the revenues derived. But the
city is receiving great benefit in 9TH
er ways. Just how much in dollars
and cents the fire protection of the
water system is worth per year is a
matter of speculation. It is consid-
cradle, however. and the citizens
should not feel discouraged I feel
sure that by the end of the fiscal
year those who have been viewing this
public improvement with pessimistic
eyes will become decided optimists.
Still another thing have not hith-
erto enumerated, which is still more
difficult to reduce to a dollars and
cents proposition. That is to say, the
possibility of beautifying private prop
critics by the use of city water. There
are fifty water consumers in the city
who have made great progress along
that line, and many beautiful lawns,
adorned with trees and shrubbery, are
in existence, which were impossible
before the advent of the water works.
That is an item which must be reck-
oned in when We come to figure the
profitableness of the system, for no
one will dispute that the whole city
is materially, perhaps pecuniarily,
benefited therehy"