The Oskaloosa herald., 1907-03-14
CITY OWNERSHIP
PROVES FAILURE
COMPARISONS IN IOWA CITIES
ARE INTERESTING.
osKALoosA's FINE SHOWING,
Water and Lights Here Are Much
Cheaper Than in Places Where
Public Utilities Are own
ed by Municipalities.

Des Moines Ia, March 9.-Accord-
ing to the report of George Pennell,
state inspector of municipal affairs,
just filed with the auditor of state,
the municipal ownership of the water
works and electric light plants at
Fairueld has been a failure.
The period inspected by MIR. Pea.
mel is from April /, 1903, to Deeem-
Der 81, 1906. On the first date there
was on hand in the water fund ST.
95S.17 At the end of the three AMI
one.half years of municipal owner
ship he finds in this fund the treasury
Is overdraw1 $2,355.50, thus showing
a loss of s4,313.67 in little over three
years. Not taking into account that
the city is still paying interest on
$4,000 outstanding refund water
bonds which must themselves be paid
1903, there was on hand $269.43; on
December 81, 1906, report shows in
this fund there was an overdraft OF
$1,779.94, thus showing loss in OPP
GRAFTON of $2,O49.37.
There has also been filed reports
of conditions at OskalooSa and Cen
terville where water and light is sup
piled by contract by private institu'
tions. A comparison of the three cit.
les il interesting. The taxable valu-
alton of Fairfield is SS92,49S. The
taxable valuation of CenterVille is
$645,641. The taxable valuation of
Oskaloosa is $1,556,75S. Fairfield
pays five mills for water; i've mills
for light and four mills on light bonds
ard is overdrawn at the end of the
period of three years. Centeryille
pays five mills water tax and five mills
light tax. In the water fund on April
/, 1903, there was on hand $G40.64;
February l, 1907, there was on hand
S277.51. In the lighting fund on April
/, 1903, there was on hand $l50.29;
February l, 1907, there was a balance
in this fund of $9SO52, showing a
saving rather than loss in the secur.
ing of light and water.
In Oskaloosa the water levy is only
three mills and the light levy five
mills. On April 6, 1903, there was on
hand in the water fund $1,712.79; on
December 81, 1906, there was a bal.
ance of $1.945.27, showing a saving
on three mill levy. In the light
fund there was on hand April l, 1903,
$516.1S; on December 81, 1906, there
was a balance in this fund of ST.,
S40.97. And in these last two named
cities there was neither water nor
light bonds on which taxes or pay.
ments must be made by property
owners.
In the Fairfield water fund the loss
was a gradual one, increasing each
year. 1t was not loss any particular
year because of installation of big i'm.
provements or anything of that kind.
On April l, 1903, there was on hand
S1,958.17; on April l, 1904, there was
on hand $19O5.20; on April l, 1905,
there was $52S.26; on April l, 1906,
the treasury was overdrawn S1,44Z97;
on December 81, 1906, the treasury
was overirawn s2,355.5O, thus indi
eating that the cost of maintenance
and operation was gradually increas,
ing while the receipts were not keep,
ing up anywhere near in proportion.
The legal limit of Indebtedness of
Fairfield is $44,624.9O. The outstand.
ing debt at present, according to II.
spector Pencils report, is 5000,
of which $4,000 is refund water
bonds.--J. s. Woodhouse.