The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1907-07-17

ports how favorably, in all essential
particulars the water companies ex-
amined by this commission compared
with the city water department. In
the two important points OF quality
and quantity Cor pressure maintained
In the distributing mains) the two
companies at Indianapolis and New
Haven have evidently cause for pride,
In the means adopted to protect the
sources Of supply, such as the purchase
and patrol Of water sheds, and the
adoption of alteration, the companies
are in the lead. A table In the pro-
municipal report shows that the ty-
phoid death rate in Indianapolis and
New Haven is relatively high. The
antl-municipal report, however, con-
tains the explanation endorsed by the
health authorities, that the trouble in
indianapolis arises from the wide use
Of water from private wells for drink
ing purposes. The engineering expert
quotes the health authorities of New
Haven to the effect that the high typh-
old death rate in that city is not due
to the quality Of the water supplied by
the company.
The question of water rates is dis
cussed In each Of these reports. Sched-
ules of water rates are usually COM
pllcated and difficult to compare as be-
tween cities. That this is the case here
seems evident from the wide discrepan-
cies in the figures given below. In each
report, an eight room shouse is as
sumed, with its customary fixtures, and
yet the different bills as shown by the
anti-municipal report are, for the diff
ferent cities from so per cent. to 1000
per cent, larger than those shown by
the pro-municipal report
The financial results of the municipal
water departments examined is too
| complicated a question to be here con-
sidered in any detail. Briefly the anti
/ municipal report, by charging taxes
4 insurance, interest on so per cent Of
the cost of the drainage canal, ect,
reduces Chicago's alleged profit Of
\ nearly $4,000, 100000 in 1905, to a deficit
4 Of over 81, 5000 600 In similar manner
by charging interest on bonds and on
the cost Of the interception sewers,
Cleveland's alleged profit OF nearly a
quarter Of million dollars Is reduced
to deficit Had the sewers been COM
! pleted as planned and needed, the add
tional interest charges would have con-
verted this into very high deficit.
At Syracuse with a gravity system,
and rlatlveiy high charges, the profits
for 1905 are $31,S15. The financial fig
ures In the municipal report are
not SO eoncisely or clearly stated; they
do not admit of straight comparison
with those given below, and 1t would
require an extensive analysis to recon-
cile the apparent differences. The
charging Of interest on the drainage
canal In Chicago, and on the intercept
ing sewers in Cleveland against the
operation of the water departments is
condemned. This report also finds
fault with the commissions experts in
the amount charged as depreciation on
the distributing system, and in the
charge for paving over the street
mains. These questions are a matter
Of judgment, which the official engln-
GERS and accountants would seem best
qualified to determine. On the whole,
At seems evident that municipal opera
ton of water supply cannot be justi-
fed solely on the grounds Of financial
gain.
In the field Of electrical supply, the
comparative method had to be ADAM
doned, because the municipal plants
had no commercial business, combining
their activities to street lighting. The
four plants examined are those of Chi
cago, Detroit, South Norwalk and Allie
gheny. An attempt to reach an &C.
curate cost Of the unit of service re-
vealed a remarkable lack of method II
accounting In these municipal depart.
ments. There was a general failure Il
include in the operating costs certain
items of expense which should be
charged.
The municipal report shows tina
the inclusion of the omitted items, ant
proper interest charges, will increase
Allegheny's published operating cost il
1905 from $104,931 to $3.50, 1882; that thu
same process will increase South Nor
Walk > NUSI hGelAlS Nv pCI NCAlts LII IN
case can the cost per arc lamp b.
reached, because none of these mu
nioipal departments measures the in
candescent current supplied to publ,
buildings. Both these reports deal q
some length with the financial situation
In Chicago, Space is lacking here Il
attempt to reconcile the apparent dis
crepancies in the figures Briefly, tn,
anti-municipal report alleges that whel
all proper charges are included, and tn,
various items of interest are entered
on the basis of compound Interest, Chi
cago would have saved SHOT per LAM
per year had it paid the private com
panies a rental for the lamps instead
of generating the current and main
tanning the lamps itself. It closes thu
subject as follows;
"The city of Chicago having nettet
loss, as reported by the accountant
Of the commission, all charges and ;
credit for the present value of tn,
plant being included in the estimate
cannot console itself for the loss by tn
contemplating of fine property. 1t
works are poor, and its inventors
value is largely scrap value"
The pro-munIcipal report contain
similar figures, but shows the loss a
, much smaller amount
The character of the service renderet
l.