Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1908-07-25
MUNICIPAL MANAGEMENT.
Galesbure's City Waterworks Are
Run on a Business Destroying Prn-
cipIe-Water Less Popular Than Gas.


A recent issue of Public Service con
taIned an article by William III. liodg"
on the public works of GaleSburg, Ill,
under the title Ownership That Does
Not Pay" Although the rates are high,
the waterworks lose upward of $4,000
n year, with a liberal allowance for
hydrants. The contrast between mu-
nicipal and private management Is
sharply brought out by the fact that
for every three families that use city
water there are five that have gas
stoves, gas being supplied by com
pany. The writer explains:
THE city does not seek to encourage
new business Consumers must deposit
$780, or the full cost of a meter, be
fore receiving service and keep the
money on deposit as long as they keep
the meter They are required to put
In and pay for the lateral pipes, or
service connections with the street
mains and no inducements whatever
are held out to them to encourage them
to become patrons of the city water
plant. If a patron becomes delinquent
and moves away the city insists on
some one paying the bill before the
water Is turned on for the succeeding
tenant, thus forcing either the landlord
or the new tenant to liquidate expenses
belonging to others.
Even those citizens who wish to be-
come patrons are not permitted to do
so in many cases because the city is
niggardly in extending mains. Scarce
ly q council meeting is held at which
unsatstied demands and protests are
not presented calling for new mains to
newly built up residence sections.
Numbers of these are without city wa
ter and seem to be unable to get it.
The last annual report of the water
superintendent shows there are thirty
three miles Of water mains. In the year
1906-1 extensions amounted to only
4,105 feet of six inch pipe, costing
$4,525.99.
Those conditions and others make
the water situation in Galcsburg a
curious study The 19O6-7 report of
the superintendent shows 1915 me-
ters In use, meaning just that many
water takers, or one to every 1i.6 per
sons less than one in every three fam
lilies of four individuals.
There We're, roughly speaking, more
than 1000 gas stoves i'll excess of users
of city water in Galesburg at this time,
which would lead to the conviction, if
all other conditions We're equal, that
the gas stove in this town is ConSid-
cred far more important to health,
comfort and happiness than municipal
water The owner of gas stove,
however, has his service connection
made free, pays nothing for the use
of the meter and a reasonable price
for the fuel used, features, 1t is clear.
which have not been lost upon him."
The writer goes on to describe the
municipal electric light plant, the rec
Ords of which are quite inadequate.
A low estimate, however, makes the
cost per lamp per year over $50 on
moonlight schedule, which is the equiv
alent of about $50 to 500 for all night
service.
Mr.. Hodge also quotes the mayor as
saying that he does not think munich
pal ownership and operation can be
made a success in the United States
so long as present political conditions
prevail He thinks that public utili-
ties should be operated by private COM
panies under franchises fair to all con-
cerned and is of the opinion that such
a method contributes to the economy
of the community and its development
and upbuilding