Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1906-03-15


We are not critcsing our predecessors for the
creation of this Indebtedness. The great inn
provements which have been made In the town
since the establishment of municipal govern
ment, together with the assets which the city
now owns, much more than offsets the indebt-
edness.
1t will be noted that an appropriation of sl6GO
was made for the purchase of n city lot and
building. The disastrous fire of last September
caused much additional expense to the city Tor
special police protection, purchase new fire hose
with a material loss of license revenue to the
city treasury from business houses which the
fire put out OF business, that the purchase of the
lot and building was indefinitely postponed,
although IL IL something the city needs
The present city council has caused to be pub
lished in the official paper after every meeting
at which bills were allowed an itemized state
ment of all such bills, with name of claimant
and purpose and amount for which allowed.
This is something that has never been done be-
fore. The people, who pay the taxes, have a
right to know where and how their money is
being expended, and the present council holds
that Immediate publication of all expenditures
is the best check upon extravaganza.
The council is also censured for ordering an
other election for the voting of bonds where.
ton was ordered upon petition signed by three
iourths OF the legal voters of the city. The
undersigned do not admit that the bond elee.
ton last September was defeat of municipal
ownership of water. 1t is true that the bond
issue was defe ated. and the municipal owner
ship Of water thereby delayed But clear ma
u
water. Municipal ownership of the water sys-
tenn ay again be delayed at the bond election
March q, but the delay will be merely temper
AIRY, although the delay may cost the city mauy
more thousands of dollars than ii we buy now.
The railroad now building will bring here a
large population from the outside progressive
world who will not long submit TO private own
ership of the first and foremost OF all public
utilities, and the prime necessity of human
existence.
We are permitted to enjoy municipal owner
ship of steam roller and rock crusher, together
with municipal ownership of sewers, school
districts, road Improvements and other non
producing Investments; but water, being primal
necessity of life which every body must buy,
and therefor" sure and certain revenue pro
Queer, is too good n thing for the cit, to own.
The water supply OF any community should
not belong to private parties who have no In
terest in maintaining pure and healthful sup
ply. Private water systems are maintained for
revenue only. Municipal ownership looks into
the health, welfare, safety and protection of
of the community as its first consideration.
with revenue as a secondary matter Under
municipal ownership the people will be given
adeq uste fire protection as well as pure water,
thereby materially reducing fire insurance
rates, which are now practically probibitory III
In the event that the bonds are voted the
city council has pledged Itself TO create .
water FUND.- into which all the revenues oil
the water system shall be placed and used ex-
| clusively for payment OF interest en- the water
bond, and providing sinking fund for re-
demption of bonds at maturity; and TO provid,
| for a system of betterments and extensions OF
| the system as the growth of the city demands
With the completion of these betterments out
of the ample revenues of the system there vii
| be very material reduction of water rates fol
| domestic purposes together with lower rates o.
| nre insurance. With ordinary business care
| the water system is self-sustaining, self-payini
self-extending and self-perpetuatng, without
/ resOrtiug to u dollar of additional taxation
| Are the present owners running 1t for fun
| In the meantime, let taxpayers remember
that the city is under 30 year contract, affirm
| ed by the supreme court, to pay the presen
| owners $1,000 per year for the next % years fn
| water rent. Here is s23 600 OF actual cash Il
| come out of the city treasury, besides the cos
| of installing hydrants for which the city mus
| pay the water company. The water system ha
has now cost the city in water rents. hydrants
| litigation etc. $4,000 This sum just abou
offsets the city indebtedness, apart from tn,
| court house bonds.
| In conclusion we beg to remind you that the
people Of this city have been torn by dissensioI
| strife and ill-feeling over the water question
ever since the 80 year contract was first signed
| Municipal ownership will allay all this bat
| feeling. and we can unite to build up the yer,
| best town in the inter mountain country
| (Signed) Fen Batty, Mayor: Joseph Pfeufer
| w. A. Hall Couneimen First ward; A. f. Par
ker, b. G. Wiltse, Councilmen Second ward; J
b. Adams, }, W. Hockersmith, CouncilmeI
| Third ward.
| Grangevllle, Idaho. March Il, 1906.