The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1906-05-23

The Editor of The sun:


Of making Il my home for lie. not
owning OF having relatives who own
stock in the public corporations here
and not being connected ial
any way with them II
would like to make some sugges-
,ions to the general council in regard
to the proposition of the city owning
and operating a water works and eiec-
tic light plants, that cartain citizens
are agitating at present.
The proposition is the most moment
Gus. affecting the present and future
generation. that the taxpayers have or
will ever have TO solve; Il vii rvolve
the expenditure and issuing of hun
ireds of thousands of dollars of bonds
investing all the resources that the
city now has or will have for years To-
come. This being true. and ! believe
all thinking people will agree with me
It must be conceded, regardless of our
opinions on the proposition, that the
question demands and calls for th9
most far-reaching and intelligent in
vestigation that the city officials and
taxpayers are capable OF giving II. n
believe that this question should be
treated and considered as an individual
business man would IL he was con-
templating investing his ali in an un-
dertaking of this magnitude can
not believe that any business man
one of the highest order of intelligence
and experience. would hastily enter
into an enterprise calling for the in
vestment of his every dollar before a
,ong and thorough investigation as to
the amount of money he is TO invest
and the returns he is to receive from
It.
The general council was elected by
the citizens and it is their duty to gov
ern our city in the interest and for the
welfare of a majority OF its citizens
When very small percentage of the
citizens of Paducah a few days since
petitioned the general council to sub
nit an ordinance to build a water
works and an electric light plant. 1t
was the duty of the council. although
there were only SIG petitioners. to
give the matter due consideration and
intelligent investigation. so that If they
decided TO grant the petitioners re-
quest they would be able. as the reeog-
nized representatives of the city. to
present or Jay before the other 80 per
cent. of voters all such facts ard fig-
ures as they are entitled to, and which
would enable them TO vote intelligent
~ on so important a subject. The
average citizen is a busy man and has
not the time or opportunity 10 get the
Information he IS entitled to on a sub
ject of this magnitude. Believing that
voice the sentiments OF a great ma
jorlty Of the taxpayers and thinking
men of our city. suggest to the gem
eral council that they carefully and
accurately, ascertain and lay before
the people the following facts and in
formation which each of them would
obtain II they were investing their own
money:
In order for ron to give the tax
payers the most important part of the
following Information 1t will be alb
so,utely necessary for you TO employ
a consulting engineer of the highest
standing. as ! am reliably Informed
there Is no one connected with the city
government who has ever built or
been connected in any way with a wa
ter works or electric light plant.
What will be the cost OF modern
up-to-date water works plant to cover
the entire city and 10 meet the present
requirements and the future growth
OF the city, and to meet the conditions
as they exist here. taking into consid-
Grafton its fire protection. purity OF
water for drinking. for steam and for
washing purposes.
What Will be the cost OF a modern
electric light plant to meet the present
demands and future growth of the
city?
What will he the receipts and ex-
penses Of such plants. and also the
recognized depreciation of them each
year?
After deciding on a system OF water
works confer with the officers OF the
National Board of Fire Insurance
companies and ascertain from them IL
your insurance rates will be increased
by constructing such a plant
Write to cities of the size OF Padu-
cab all over the country and ascer-
tain what they are paying for water
for fire and domestic purposes and
electric lights and in comparing them
| to those here inform the citzans