Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-07-15

~ II 80 80 nc NV '
debauched, and 1t is certain that in
the purchase and sales departments
there were Influences at work which
worked harm to the city's interests.
But the loss through such sources
was inconsiderable when compared
with those inflicted by councils by the
sensoless blocking of the way TO inn
%provement in cutting off the appro-
~priations for undermining the plant.
During III entire period Of municipal
operation the officers in charge were
engaged In a losing fight to preserve
the works from ruin. There never
was a time during the entire period Of
responsible control when it could
truly be said that the works were in
an efficient condition"
American Water Works.
Water systems operated by the mu-
inequalities in Chicago, Cleveland and
Syracuse and by private com 2anies In
indianapolis and New Haven, we're in
vestigated. The investigating engin-
Ger quoted by Messrs. Edgar and
Clark found that at Chicago the ia
~cilities for developing water from the
present sources OF supply are insuffi-
Client. The sources Of supply at CleVe-
land were abundant. At Syracuse
a new conduit from Lake S~kaneateles
will be needed in the near future, as
the maximum daily capacity is ex-
ceeded by the maximum daily con-
sumption. There is, however, f20.-
600. 900 gallons of storage. At In
dIanapolis (|operated by private com
pany) there is "A more satisfactory
state Of affairs. the maximum capac-
ity largely exceeding the maximum
consumption. This Is true alse Of
New Haven. The municipal plants at
Chicago and Cleveland are Gun to
be deficient as regards installation Of
pressure gauges. Syracuse (munic-
ipal) and indianapolis and New Ha-
ven are equipped with recording
gauges. In Chicago complaints Of
lack Of pressure were numerous,
houses in certain districts being able
To get water In their upper stories
only at night. In Cleveland and SYRIA
cuse. the pressure was, on the whole,
satisfactory. This also applies to In
dlanapolis and New Haven.
Summarizing the results Of the in
vestigation as TO the quality and pur-
ity of the water supplied. Messrs. Ed
gar and Clark say:
This phase Of the question may be
summarized with the statement that
while the natural conditions in he
different cities call for different meth
DDS Of treatmen it is evident that he
two companies examined were more
solicitous regarding the purity OF the
water supply, and adopted more thor
ough means for insuring the same
than did the three municipalities who
ran their own water department.
"The conclusion drawn as a result
of our investigation into the quality
OF the water is hat the water sup
81 49, q A.. 81 t.- La.a...VHna fn fFAnI
sanitary water: that its quality is
much better than the water supplied
in Chicago. somewhat better than he
water supplied in Cleveland and quite
as good as the water supplied at syria
etise The latter place Is blest with
water from a source which, down to
the date of this report, has remained
pure without any special expense or
effort on the part of the water de-
partmcnt.
ut seems that the citizen obtains
the cheapest water in Cleveland. while
New Haven IL the second cheapest. At
Indianapolis the poor nan gets water
fairly cheap, but the cost incrcas -
rapidly as the class of dwellings inn
proves. At both Chicago and Syfd-
cusc the poor man pays "A high price
for water.
Financial Results.
Under the heading Financial an
exhaustive reViow Of the economic on
rations of municipal and private I'M
d~ertakings both In Great Britain ana
the United States is given by the re
viewers, who find hat It Is admitted
by the advocates of manipulation
thai the debts OF British cities have
been enormously increased by opera
tions. 1--WE venture 10 believe, - they
say. that the loss TO the communities
-. .U.H.aAN.AI t.AHHaN rf.a anL. IANsa
investigated from bad management
and lack OF enterprise. resulting In re-
service of modern utilities.
is many times the profit these cities
20 have realized from their RIP
Van Wrinkle methods of serving Ia"
public.
"It ~ not worth while 10 discuss the
on the finances OF American cit
les Of the municipal operations OF tho
that we have here investi-
gated. Properly audited they have,
with u or two exceptions. lost money
and their plants are AN Inadequate 10
good service and have, with The cX-
ccption Of the water plants. little more
than scrap value iu view of the pres
cnt state of the arts. what effect could
such poor efforts as we have Witnessed
have on a public wealth or public
comfort II cannot fail To- be bad
Mr.. Edgar aud Mr. clark conclude
their present review as follows:
Whatever the subjective relation Of
municipalities To their reform. their
objective relation as We have seen.
h far from what 1t once was regard
Ing the commodities and services To
municipalizcd They have been
bN the logic of events to cut
from much that ccmcd precious
To themselves and 90 man VINO
traind with them. Their opponents,
C%opnizancc OF the objects aban-
loncd. hoped that now municipalizers
might he pinned down To- the consid-
OF ascertaincd facts relating a.
undertaking. which their representa-
have had opportunity Co visit and
.o developments obvious TO an who
are Interested iu tho progress of the
debate on the question. The voluntary
movement off the municipalities Co thls
iot cssil, shiftahlv point would. Va
in Itself have been "A contribu-
lf qualification 60 their a~dvcrsarirs
the radical British municipalities
has exhibited the resources Of hope
aud fancy. if not of logic and con-
.istcncy. While hN American Comrade
= still shouting for municipal owner
.hip. he b. TODAY, Doc his latest frame u
mind. looking UN~pcrfautlN Co muni-
-ipallEatinn hN prnNtncrs-ihat is. Tor
gas. water. tramWaNs and electricity
b. now wants national government
appropriation ownership and opera
He has dropped mu|nlCipalisu
md comes out cor what ho an The
lime had iu fhr background ~ hts