Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1909-10-14
Cochise County and Territorial News

or to the citizens in a competitive wa
ter plant The city might eventually
have put the water company out Of
business. but the cost of a eompeti-
tive plant and the cost incident to
the fight for custom afterwards
would, in our opinion. have been
many times greater than the amount
necessary to acquire the existing
plant. its business and good will, and
make the enterprise an Garner from
the day we took 1t over.
80 l have no personal knowledge
of cities building new plaats aud en-
tering into competition with existing
works, but it would seem to me that
such venture would always be sim
ply a business question. and could
be figured the same as a new com
pany endeavoring to invade the field
of an established concern. with this
difference, that the taxing power of
the city would insure the solvency of
the new concern. The length of the
fight and the extent of loss to both
parties in such case would prob
ably be measured by the solyency of
the old company on one side and the
patience OF the tax payers on the
other My idea is that the furnishing
of such necessaries as water and
lights to the inhabitants of cities is
a business. whether furnished by a
private corporation or by the munich
pality. and that in determining such
a question as you seem to have under
consideration it should be determin-
ed purely upon a business basis
Since taking over the water plant
last May Globe has spent about $685.
10000 in engagements and improve
ments. and the plant is now capable
of giving efficient service and of
meeting all demands for some time
to come. The city has enlarged many
of the mains, improved the wells and
pumping plant, and has added and
is adding large number of fire by
drants to the equipment, and extend
ing and increasing the area of pro-
lection. This last we consider in
wolves only the initial cost of cover
ing material and installation "a fire
hydrant consuming no water except
when in actual use), but IL does Sc
cure to the citizens here material
reductions in their rates of insur
ance The plank e now earning more
than enough to care for the interest
ON our bonded debt. provide sink
ing fund, and to cover AL expenses OF
operation and provide for replace
ments and repairs, and constant addi-
tons in consumption are increasing
these revenues
It has taken some time for the city
officers to systematic the finances
and the operation of the plant, and to
arrive at an accurate knowledge OF
the earning capacity of the plant and
Of what the fixed charges of future
operation VIII be, and during this
here By Friday or Saturday at the
period the rates of the old company
have been maintained, but these
problems have all been worked out
now, anG 1 believe that in a short
time a material reduction in rates
will be made, the new and lower
rates being sufficient to meet all de-
mands. 1t has been the purpose of
the council here to make the water
plant OF the city a separate self-sus-
tanning department, providing all
means for its own maintenance and
for meeting its own obligations.
We regard the acquiring of the
water plant here a splendid invest
ment both for the city and citizens.
Very respectfully.
N. NJ. ALFRED.
City Attorney.