The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1907-04-12

~ ~ SOhSSoOt Uhdu olioi ho'O CSSh
made, but many of them were unavoid-
able and would have occurred under
private ownership, whereby the con-
sumers would have been taxed for
their correction far beyond what they
now are taxed for water rentals.
The Lincoln waterwOrks with all the
Implications necessary, have cost the
the city $5S3,476, and have bonded
debt of 1908. 600; pays an annual interest
OF SS, 700; has gross earnings of about
O,OO5, at this time per year, exclus-
i've of hydrant rental and water for
sewer flushing and all other municipal
purposes, which should add approx
mately another $35, 900 or $40, 900 to the
gross earnings; expends annually on
extensions about $22, ZOO, and for main
tenance and repairs about $32, 900.
Meantime it furnishes water to con-
sumers at ID cents 1000 gallons-no
more and no less.
Since the plant was established, be-
ginning with seventy-five hydrants in
1885 and ending with $40 in 1906, the
hydrant rentals alone under private
ownership would have cost this city
1865, 900 and flushing of sewer and 9th
er municipal uses of water, conserva-
lively estimated at $4,000 year, or
$l32, 900 in twenty-five years, runs the
saving in cash up to SOL, 800.
A statement of Water Commissioner
Deffeubaugh for the year ending Au-
gust 81, 1906, shows running expenses,
not including depreciation, to have
been $40646.33 including interest on
bonded debt, and the collections $57,-
$4,000, net profit of $26, 592. Is for the
year.
In Lincoln the average rental for the
1924 services, big and little, is $l2 a
year, and the average annual supply is
10000 gallons. The average rental
for Groom residence is approximately
800 year.
estimate that Lincoln, on it's pres
ent basis, will make approximately
1913, 600 this year out of its municipal
ownership of the waterworks. | figure
that under private ownership we would
lose $2S, 800 hydrant rentals, 3d. 900 for
flushing sewers and supplying the pub
lie buildings $4,000 profits and $780,
600 in water rentals.
AS to the lighting plant it has been
running but little over year and its
operation has therefore been expert
mental in certain degree. 1t is oper-
ated in conjunction with one of the
waterworks stations, and has given
and promises to give the most emil
nent satisfaction.
For many years the city paid a pri-
vate company per month for arc lamps
and street lighting, prices rang
ing from $40 down to $7.45 under it's
last contract in 1902 for all night lights
and S5.45 for midnight lights. moon
light schedule, operating at that time
$50 lamps. Then the city adopted gas
lights until September l, 1905, when
it's municipal plant was installed at a
cost of $50. GOOSE. The figures as to
cost are taken from the statement of
City Auditor Pratt.
The annual report of Mr.. Diflen-
baugh, who as water commissioner, is
also in charge of the lighting plant.
shows that for the initial year ending
August 81, 1906 the total cost of Oper.
atioa and maintenance, exclusive of de-
probation, was SIG, S66.51. These
lights have been all night lights every
night, and of candle power admitted
ly much superior to those furnished
under private ownership. The city
uses $50 of them, and the water COM
missioner's statement shows that the
average cost of them is 81 % per light
per month Steps are being taken now
to authorize the city to equip the plant
for commercial lighting with view of
further reducing the cost of public
lighting.
These are some of the reasons why
there is no sentiment in Mr.. Bryan's
home city against the municipal own.
ership, at least, of our public utilities.
No man would have the temerity TO in
innate in Lincoln that municipal own
ershp has has borne the semblance OF
failure here, and it is only the menda'