The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-13
The Town Finally Decides t
Build System of It's Own.
FOR CITY OWNERSHIP
Present Company Owned by
Pittsburg Capitalists.
Business Men Declare Rates Are
Far Too High.

wichita, Kan, Jan. lathe peo-
pie of Wichita have twice voted for
the municipal ownership of the water
plant and now reluctant council has
told them that if they desire a NUM-
cipal plant they will have to purchase
the y million dollars worth of bonds
voted to buy or build plant. Wichita
has few capitalists but it has a num-
Der of we'll to do citizens who ALWAYS
have a little money to invest in good
securities and it appears as if they
We're going to get together and buy
the bonds
The city advertised the bonds for
sale at an interest rate of "a per cent.
but when the selling time came had
only one offer. This offer it could not
aford to accept. Many bond compan-
les informed the city that they did not
building competing companies, thus
lowering the value of the stock of
established corporations
me Wichita Water company is
owned by Pittsburg capitalists and
bankers. Why the city cannot sell wat
er bonds when paving bonds have
been sold readily and at a premium is
not known, but the peope are deter
mined NH to have a new water, plant and
are going to dispose of the bonds
Wichita determined to have a mu-
nicipal plant two years ago when af-
ter petitioning to be allowed to vote
on the subject the proposition carried
by vote of two to one. The council
was adverse to the idea and allowed
the time which it was given to buy
or construct a plant to elapse without
action.
At the general election last Novem-
Der another vote was taken on the
question. It carried by as large a ma
jority as before. Committees were
appointed by the Chamber of Com
merce and Commercial club to push
ha 1af nd hot 10
did not allow the wishes of the people
again to be defeated.
Engineers were hired and sub
mitted plans and estimates on the cost
100000 population. The Wichita
Water company was then asked to
name a price on its plant. 1t offered
to take 1 Il million dollars The price
was considered too high.
A few weeks later the council adj
vertised the q million dollar bond is
sue for sale, preparatory to taking up
the letting of a contract for new
plant. G. e. Hoffmaster, vice presi-
dent of the Wichita Water company,
arrived in Wichita from Pittsburg as
soon as he could get here. After
spending a week here and comforting
with the mayor and councilmen, at a
regular meeting of the council he
offered the city q reduction of 10 per
cent in the existing water rates and a
reduction amounting to $4,000 in the
water rental the city was paying the
company. This reduction was offered
with no provisions binding the city
from going ahead with its building
plans. The council accepted the offer
Then when it came to selling the
bonds to pay for the building of a
plant the council announc-
ed that it was unable to sell them
and that if the people wanted a plant
built they would have to buy the
bonds.
The fight for municipal water
plant and for lower rates, the bust
ness committees say, will be contin-
ued even if Wichita men have to buy
the bonds. After plant is built it is
expected another fight will follow be-
tween the two systems. Competent
engineers say that it costs little to get
the water into the mains in Wichita.
The water is found at a depth Of only
ten and fifteen feet and is so pure that
it needs little filtration. They say that
a. mum icipal plant can furnish water
at one-third the present rates and
make money for the city.