The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 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 PenneIl,
state inspector of municipal affairs,
just filed with the auditor Of state,
the municipal ownership Of the water.
works and electric light plants at
FairAeld has been failure.
The period Inspected by Mr.. Pea.
mel is from April !, 1903, to Deem
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 overdrawn S2,355.5O, thus showing
a loss of $4,313.67 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,
In the electric light fund April L,
1903, there was on hand S26943; on
December 81, 1906, report shows in
this fund there was an overdraft Of
$1,779.94, thus showing a loss in OPP.
GRAFTON of $2,O49.37.
There has also been filed reports
of conditions at 0skaloosa and Cen
terville where water and light is sup.
piled by contract by private institu.
tions. A comparison of the three cit
les Is interesting The taxable valu-
alton OF Fairfield is $685., 49S. The
taxable valuation Of Centerville is
$645,641. The taxable valuation of
Oskaloosa is S1,556,75S. Fairfield
pays five mills for water; i've mills
for light and four mills on light bonds
and Is overdrawn at the end of the
period of three years. Centerville
pays five mills water tax and five mills
light tax. In the water fund on April
/, 1908, there was on hand $64O.64;
February 1, 1907, there was on hand
$277.51. In the lighting fund on April
"A, 1903, there was on hand $150.29;
February l, 1907, there was a balance
in this fund of $9SO.52, showing a
saving rather than a 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, 1908, there was on
hand in the water fund $1,712.79; on
December 81, 1906, there was bal.
ance of s1,945,27, showing a saving
on three mill levy. In the light
f,,od tbo,,o xyo,, ~, baod Anil 1uno
$51G.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 gradual one, increasing each
year 1t was not loss any particular
year because of installation of big inn,
provements or anything of that kind
On April 1, 1903, there was on hand
S1,958.17; on April l, 1904, there was
on hand $1,9O5.2O; on April l, 1905,
there was $528.26; on April l, 1906,
the treasury was oyerdrawn S1,44797;
on December 81, 1906, the treasury
was oyerirawn 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 S44,624.9O. The outstand.
ing debt at present, according to In.
spector Pennell's report is $S5,0OO
of which $4,000 is refund water
bonds.--J s. Woodhouse.