The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-11-29

TUESDAY. NOVEMBER 29. 1910.
 THE WATER COMPANYS MAP.
 On Saturday, the Farmer published a page advertisement from the Bridge port Hydraulic Company, currently known as the water company. which was in effect an outline map of the sources of the city's water supply. This map shows the location of the reservoirs now in use. and Of those profected for construction in the near future. the largest of which Is located on the so-called "Biack Road road at a point called the ''Hemlocks" and which will form lake three miles long and three-quarters of mile wide.
 The publication of this map may have been merely designed to prove how theoretically and capably the water company is providing for the needs of a rapidly growing city. and to indicate that the company. with its present and projected facilities. will soon be enabled to care for a popuia- tion of 100000. Or the publication may have been intended to stun the city with an intimation of the high cost of municipal ownership. and to thus check the movement toward pur- chase of the water company's plant by the city. We incline to the belief r,1rr of the advertisement.
 One fact stands out prominently viz. that the water company believes itself to have ga good thing" which will bear pushing along. It is 7"not in business for it's health" or for the exclusive welfare of the city. but to make money for it's stockholders. II must see enough ultimate profit in its proposed new storage reservoirs to warrant the necessarily heavy expen- ditures, or these projects would not have been undertaken. This is as strong an argument for municipa ownership as for continuance of pri- vate control. The city could gather in these ultimate profits. together with profits from the present plant. as vel as the private corporation.
 With regard to the argument by inn plication, that purchase of the water company's plant. is ''too big chaw' for the city: The company must meet it's estimated expenditure of s2,000.0 .00' for new construction by borrowing money through stock or bond issues sx 1o@ @1d io IF use a surplus of that amount. which would be tantamount to a confession that its rates to consumers are muct too high. The city could issue bonds for that purpose as we'll as can the company, for it's credit Is equally good Extension of the water-supply system would. therefore be as possible for tho city as 1t is for the company.
 Of course. the cost of purchasing the water plant would be heavy. but no ''too big a chaw" for the city. Its credit would sustain the strain, espe- cially as the direct security-the water plant-would be excellent. and as thu indirect security-entire valuation o the city-would be super-excellent Most other cities withstand similar strains upon their resources and credit with ease. and with profits whici would. under private control of water systems, go into corporate pockets.
 Comparisons are said to be odious and we therefore refrain from an, estimate of the relative resources ani credit of city and company. Pos. sibly, the company may be a giant and the city a pygmy, in such mat ters, but it should not be forgotten that "a dwarf may keep pace with z giant if he will only move his leg: fast enough"
 The Farmer does not challenge either the quantity or the quality of tht water supplied by the company, nol its enterprise in extension of tn, water system, but does claim that al these purposes can be as we'll con served and accomplished by the city and that the profits therefrom whicl are large and will be larger, can bt very conveniently utilized in the city business-for instance. in an increased number of schools. a new sewer sys tenn. harbor dockage. etc.. etc.
 The Tariff board will not be read! to report for several months to come and 1t Is understood that the Presi dent will await its report before mak ing any recommendations to Congress This will defer any remedying O