Arizona republican., 1907-11-23

paying for power under the old con- tract s65O per month. waffle under the new contract the rate is $i16 per month.
 Since the city took charge four months ago. the net earnings of the water department have been S9000ii or at the rate of s2L000 per year, over and above the expense of operations. The annual interest on the bonds. S.I0.o0C at five per cent. and S60.0OO of the sherman bonds al six per cent. amounts to Slj.60o. Deducting that from the $27,0oO profit that will be in evidence if the same favorable results continue during the rest of the year. there will still be accumulated as profits. enough money to pay Ss-lO per cent profit on the investment of s3e0,o0o
 A portion of this profit fund. how ever. has been expended for repairs and improvements th<t were neces- sary or advisable. For instance. the repairs included the buying of a new wagon to replace an old one and the fixing of breaks and other irregular ities in the system. This bill totaled SSS0.4S. The expenditure Tor perman- cEt Improvements amounts to $2S2s36 and includes the buying of new wa gen. necessary to care for an expand ing business. together with horses and harness the extension of the pipe lines
 
 new buildings and other improvements at the power house and various other things. all in the nature of permanency and betterment of the system.
 There was some criticism of the de- partment when the appointment of an inspector was first suggested. al a sal ary of sS5 per month. The department. however. feels that it has been very profitable investment as the inspector has added more than four dollars of revenue for every one he has been paid in salaY. He has added to the list of patrons. 176 new accounts which con tribute about s4O0 monthly to the rev cnues. These accounts are nearly all patrons who were overlooked by the sherman management and hard to get at bV the new city management witb- out the help of some one to devote him. self to that line of activity. They are not dishonest people but simply those who were taking advantage of special privileges that came in their way in- cidentally and that would have been continued had it not been fer tse eagle eve of the inspector. For instance in some cases there were double houses where one family paid for the water and two or three were getting their supply from the same hydrant. not eX- aCtly surrcptitiously but merely be- cause nobody stopped them or called them to account and put them on the same footing with others. In other instances there were tenement houses through which 2 supply was furnished f" quite s number that nobody seemed C" know anything about until special attention was paid to them. Others would utilize the hydrants of their ncighburs and the latter naturally would not protest but the city did.
 Concerning the new distributing sys- tcii for the construction of which bids have been asked. Superintendent Craig said yesterday that there have been about hundred applications for the lflnieu SD.flil'dtlOnS. some. p course. will never be heard from again hut it is expected that there will be quite an array of bidders when the bids are opened on December . Though it k desired to begin construction at the earliest moment. it is quite probable that it will he impossible to get all the necessary material here before March II is believed Phoenix will be fortunate in one way. in letting the contract for construction during this winter and the early spring. for at this season of the year. work of that kind can be en- gagged in but slightly in most cities and many contractors are idle in the win ter months. IL is believed. therefore. | that there will be quite a number of good men on the lockout for a winter job.