, 1906-03-23
TALKS OF
ELECTION
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Would 1t not be nearer in line will
true finance to levy a tax and pay suct
Illegal portion of our city bonds off SC
that the balance could be floated at g
much lower rate of interest?
Would it not put the city on better
ground with persons or corporations
that invest in municipal bonds if the
city was not in default on bonds OF
doubtful legality now drawing 6 per
cent?
Reputation Not In Favor.
Not n property owner in fifty
would favor a repudiation of any part
of the old city indebtedness, but certain
anxiety might be removed on the part
of bondholders if the over issue now
drawing6per cent was paid down % the
constitutional limit of such indebted.
ness.
But to return to the householder
who is n a property owner, but witt
is sufficiently supplied with free water
Do you want to pay a tax from now on
for the water that you now have and
have heretofore had the free use of? Do
not be deluded with the idea that the
owner of the house n lot will have
to pay the water tax n that you will
not feel the effect of it.
Bases of Rent Charue,
The average owner of tenement
houses bases his rem charges on the
original cost of property, insurance, re-
pairs and taxes; so that the tenant
really pays for repairs, insurance and
axes. Don't be fooled into the notion
that the water tax would not be added
to the present cost of rents.
First, it is safe to conclude that the
$4,000 in bonds, if passed upon favor
ably on the 10th day of April, will not
be fioated at less than 5 per cent per
annum; that the interest charge will
be $4,000 a year instead of 5 5000.
Second, that if the amount of the
1920 or 1000 was expended each year
in improving the present water system,
the city in ten years time would have
a splendid system for the distribution
of water to all the inhabitants and no
additional Indebtedness.
Dead Ends and dead Ends"
But someone says, how about the
dead ends to pipes? l answer that
they are on every lot in the city that
has water pipes and with any pressure
that the city will ever have from the
springs will cause no Inconvenience or
bad health. | infer that it is the want
of more such dead ends" that has
prompted the bond questions. Those
who are short on dead ends" as be
fore stated, can lay their own pipes
more economically than to have the
city lay such laterals and forever there,
after charge a water tax.
Third, how about the water meter
check on the use of water? If the city
authorities cannot prevent the users of
water from the laterals that we now
have from draining the Grand avenue
main, and possibly the reservoir, how
will the use of water be held in check
with a more complete system of pipes
to draw from? Echo from the council
chamber says, "A meter for each of the
1000 homes at SIS apiece"
Meter Matter to the Fore.
The water meter will be as logically q
part of the installation of a new system
of street laterals as the faucets are to
stop the flow from the dead ends" at
the kitchen sink Or the bath tub.
For only about three months in each
year has there been a complaint of the
abuse of water. If the violation of the
city ordinance concerning the use OF
water during the irrigation season
could be stopped it is probable that
there would not have been cause for
complaint. Such complaint has been
as earnest by lot owners adjoining
Grand avenue as it has been on those
streets having 3-inch laterals, thus
emphasizing the ldCL ludI II 10 d COh-
slant pressure in the main pipe from
the springs that is wanted more than
a new lateral system on those streets
that have sufficient laterals.
Would it not be better to try the ad-
%ditional pressure that the e reser
voir will assure, before plunging into
debt for a system of doubtful necessity?
Lateral Extensions Additional Burden,
If the city is to assume the duty Of
laying a 4-inch lateral to the property
of each person who builds a house our
on the prairie, but still within the city
limits, the cost of such extension viii
be an additional growing burden on the
people of the city, that is now impossi
BILE to estimate.
Therefore, before casting your ballot
on the water bond question, consider
whether the condition of the present
water system will justify a complete
installation of a new system, carrying
with it, as it necessarily would, an adj
ditional tax levy on ali the taxable
property in the city excepting, as l un,
derstand it, the Union Pacific Railroad
company property of 2K mills on the
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