, 1906-03-26
Some City Debt Paid.

and demand. If there are more
houses than renters. the owner will be
obliged to reduce the tent to keep the
property occupied, irrespective of wa.
ter rates; and If there is a greater
demand for houses thai there are
houses to supply the demand, the rents
will consequently be increased. So
water rates cut no figure.
Pipe to the Mayors Residence.
Mr.. Holiday says: IF the city is to
assume the duty of laying a four-inch
lateral to the property of each person
who builds a house on the prairie, but
still within the city limits, the cost of
such extension will be an additional
growing burden on the people of the
city, that 1t is now impossible to esti.
mate" We infer that Mr.. Holiday
has reference to the water pipe laid
from the main on Grand avenue to the
house just completed by the mayor If
ii was a four-inch pipe, and If the en-
tire cost was borne by the city, his as
sertion might be true; but the exact
fact is that the city council proposes
laying a three-inch pipe to the GEM
etery, and Mr.. Mckee offered them the
right of way through his land-the
shortest and most direct route for such
a pipe line-and agreed to pay one
half the entire cost Of pipe and laying
same from Grand avenue to opposite
his house, which expense he has paid
and it is a matter of record that any.
one may see. His connection from this
main to his house is only three-quar-
ter inch. too.
e. As to the Meter Question.
The matter of meters used by Mr..
Holiday is an unfair argument in the
present proposition. The council has
never entertained for a moment the
idea OF installing meters. This could
only be lone by a vote of the people,
and VIZ ave not asked the peorle 70
vote on the meter proposition We
believe there is water enough coming
from the springs to supply a town
twice the size of Laramie, if only we
could get it to the householder through
pipes of proper size, and not down the
bitches, as at present.
The council has not taken an arbi-
trary stand in this matter, but desire
to carry out the wishes of the major
ity Of the people. We know some will
oppose it, for they will oppose any
thing to which they are not catered to
or consulted in. In the proposition
and we again say, that if a more salts
factory plan for meeting the payment
of this proposed water system is pro-
posed, we are willing to receive and
consider it.
Advising Without Suggestions.
The main DIRECTORS so far to the
proposition are trying to ear down
the proposition of the council without
substituting anything in its place. Yet
these same people admit we should
have an improved water system. If
they are sanguine in saying we need
an improved water system, why don't
they submit what they think a more
satisfactory plan than that already
submitted?
In talking with several citizens dur
ing the past two weeks, a great many
seem to favor a lot assessment each
year, instead of taxation on all prop
erty and a fiat rate for water. If this
be universally true, the council is will
ing to submit a proposition on his
basis.
Basis for Lot Taxation.
There are 154 blocks embraced in
the proposed system on the east side
and probably twenty-five blocks on the
west side, making a total of about 179
eight lots and several twenty-five lots.
For computation it might be safe to
say each block would average ten lots.
This would give a total of 1870 lots.
A yearly assessment of S. on each lot
would pay the interest on the bonds
and $4,000 on the principal each year.
If this plan be adopted, each person
would know just exactly that he will
have to pay just s. on each lot he
owns every year, no more nor no less,
He would have no anxiety about how
much he would AVE to pay for water,
ing his lawn, supplying the chickens or
taking a bath.
The city council would be glad to. re,
ceive expressions from every voter in
the city, either personally addressed to
the council or through either of the
newspapers, as to which plan they
prefer-the one already submitted or
the above plan of lot assessment.
Building for Larger Needs.
If the Union Pacific lays a new main,
where will our h%aphazard, worn-out, in,
T efficient little ~laterals come in? Every
member Of the city council is a tax
) payer and is no more interested IN
, this matter thar any other taxpayer.