The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-04
IT'S A GOOD THING.
Waterworks Proving a Pay
ing Investment.
Plant Earned Last Year Nearly
Ninety Thousand Dollars.
LARGE SUMS ARE USED
These Expenditures for Better
ment Of the System.
Forty Thousand More for New
Mains and Improvements.
LARGE SUMS ARE USED

The years report of the board of
waterworks trustees was filed with the
city council last evening along with a |
supplemental report covering the little |
over two years period Of municipal i
management. The department still con- |
tinues to make the good showing that
has characterized it from the first I'M
der the efficient board of trustees. Dur
ing 1907 the plant earned $8S, 760.37 with
expenditures of $50, 6S0.91 for running
the department including expenditures
of $2S,377.71 for construction of new
mains and pipe lines and betterments
at the pumping plant. The balance of
$28,079.46 was distributed among the
interest and sinking funds, to pay In
terest on the bonds and principal, and
the betterment account. During the
year the cost of pipe lines alone
amounted to $23, 564. 81.
The balances which are reported to ex-
list on hand at this time are divided:
$4,000 to the betterment fund for i'm
proving the service, SIS, 10243 to the
general fund and $5,626 to the interest
balance.
The value of the plant during the lit
tie over two years of city management
has enhanced in value s68, 561. 80 through
improvements made alone. OF this sum,
50.649.34 has been spent in giving the
citizens of Topeka main extensions.
The big end Of the receipts now come
from the meter customers who turn in
during a year $50, 101 80, while those on
the fiat rate pay $24,920.6S during the
same time.
At this time the board is planning
further improvements which will cost
close to $4,000 before they are compile
ted.
The financial report of the city clerk
which was filed last night does not
show up so we'll this time for the pres
ent administration. 1t indicates in
creasing expenditures of departments
and the retrenchments that were prac-
ticed so rigidly during the forepart of
the administration are seemingly slip
ping the leash.
The total expenditures of all depart
ments for the month of December
amounted to s134s4.ss as compared with
the same month of 1906 which amount
ed to $15.026.51. The receipts at the
same time amounted from taxes and
miscellaneous sources to $32, 46421 as
against the year previous which was
$26, 604.68. OF this increase SIS, 900 is to
be accounted for by taxes while there
was a corresponding falling off in the
amount of the miscellaneous receipts.
The police department, fire-depart-1
ment, sanitary department, city engi-
| neering. electric light departments all
show slight Increases over the expendi-
| lures of these same departments last
year The street department, however,
shows a saving of 81, 500 in the month.
All Of the increases which were pro-
posed by the ways and means commit
| tee for the electric light, city attorneys
| and plumbing inspectors departments
| were laid over until next week last ev-
ening. The committee which reported
| back favorably on salary of the plumb
| ing inspector giving him an increase
| from 81 900 to 81, 200 was sent into the
| sidetrack by the chairman of the COM
mittee by Councilman Montgomery.
| This made Sheahan mad. He got up
and said: Il have done good work and
deserve good pay. I would like to know
what this means. This committee
| ted to give me an increase. will have
my hearing one of these times. 1 will
get even. 1 don't think this jockeying
| is right
An ordinance creating the Office of
| inspector of weights and measures
will be drawn up by the city attorney
| acting under instructions of the city
council. The position will probably be
| license collector. The inspector will
! test all scales and measures used III
| the city at least twice year.
| NJ. w. Gilmore, sidewalk contractor.
| which is being held up by the council,
came UP before the council again.
| 1--WE have got a dozen suits on file
to pay for them? The people of To-
| peka" said Councilman Charles Kutz.
mo, sir, it will be Gilmore if you
| only keep your mouth shut said City
| Attorney F. G. Drenring.
IT'S my opinion that it is only spite
work on the part of the city attorney
| toward Mr.. Gilmore that this money Is
| held up. It's my opinion that the city
will never get a cent from Brooks or
! Gilmore in these suits. Now I under
stand that the city attorney has
| amended his suit so that it won't come
off until in September, and it's my
/ opinion that the city attorney wants to
| make a nest egg for himself in a POI
| litical way because the primaries viii
| not be held until August and this
comes off in September said Council