Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-03-17
SCATHING ARRANGEMENT
OF DEM 0CRATlC
INCOMPETENCE
Continued From rag I, Column ~

one years interest. or $18,O5o, and
We win pay another year., and posi-
bly, two years interest on these bohus
before a single sewer connection is
made. We viii be called upon to pay
these bonds in twenty years and AZ
the present rate of construction We
may be called upon TO a them be-
fore the sewer is completed.
This administration soiemnly prom
ised us a complete system flsht
away at an outside cost OF $l55'VVV'
It was just twelve months after
their election before this admlnlstra-
ton even got around to issue the
bonds. II was three months more be-
fore the contract was let. Fifteen
months elapsed before even the pre-
linlinaries for actual construction ne
gan. 1t is now nine months since the
contract was let. 1t is t~Wenfy-three
months since Ibis administration was
elected upon the solemn promise OF
democratic candidates TO give us TINS
sewer system right away. Today al
ter the lapse of these tWenty-three
months we have hardly begun, and
the system at the present time repre-
sents contract expenditure of your
money amounting to $500. 100000.
ON April 6, 1909. the city received
for the bonds, including premium and
ftAl u1u tilttANSA Nf'F Rhf r
or within 6 per cent of the amount,
S325,OO0 90. for which the rcpubI-
cans proposed to construct j sanitary
sewer system and over which the
democratic campaisners n candid
atcs made such Il howl Two years ago.
We viii ask you not to overlook the
fact that In addition to the $685. 600
already spent, or contracted to he
spent for your sewer system, there IS
an additional, everlasting. ncNer-end-
ing and perpetual expense Of $4,000
a year FOR pumping sewage.
We viii ask yon to remember that
this S325.00O sanitary sewer system
proposed BY the republicans was -
gravity system, the cheapest Of all
systems to operate, that the repub-
leans proposal contemplated y
storm water sew,,f, now recognized as
a necessity. at M estimated cost Of
S5O,00g.0a and for which the present
system makes no provision whatever.
Remember. too, that the republcans
proposal contemplated q S25,0O0.OO
surplus to be- used for making extern
SiOns as needed.
Che present system contemplatcs
no extensions and thus ncglects to
provide for the growth Of the city,
for there are no funds with which to
make extensions. There are no funds
for the storm water sewer. The bond
issuc Is xlg7, 000.uO greater than nee
essary. for our democratic friends
promised that they would build the
sewer for S133, 600. 90; but the entire
bond issue. 1888. cor. 90, the amount
FOR which the campaimn sewer experts
agreed to build the sewer. plus the
$4,000. 90. has been expended by the
single contract FOR the sanitary sewer.
The democrats in their platform two
years ago stated that the republican
platform was mado to run on and not
- -.,..r - - ..-,,r1l g.nf, fI4t fIg
democratic platform was certainly
made TO get in On hnt not to stand on
They got down off the platform before
the votes were countc aud have been
so busy ever since trying to prop it
up that they have had no time to
adequately attend to the city's bust
ness.
We cannot conceive. in view of the
figures quoted above. that any sane
MAJ could. in good faith, have made
such gross errors as are show be-
tween the promised cost ana the
actual cost to date OF this sewer sys-
tenn. We are lead to the Inevitable
ers of Albuquerque deliberately de-
cciVcd the people to get the demo-
cratic candidates into office.
But this is lot the worst feature of
the matter. The democrats turned
the sewer problem into a political is
sue iOI HDlNlNdi pul l'ootos W. VIC
people who pay the taxes on the
sewer bonds, have to bear the bust
ness end Of the burden.
There is another side to this ques-
ton. which should be emphasized.
OF the yS06, 10000, received from the
sewer bonds. every dollar has been
spent or is contracted to be spent.
The sewer fund still shows a large
balance and will until after the cleo
ton. but of that balance every dollar
has been pledged on the contract or
TO pay for material for which the city
is directly liable. When this money is
expended there is no provision for
more money ii it be needed. There
is no provision for Il storm water
eve There is no provisions for any
extension of the system. No
provision for the growth OF A%lbuquer-
quo.
Nine months ago the construction
contract was let to Glass & Fischer,
for S26S, 600. 90. IT is now well known I
that the contract cannot be completed
within the specified time. \ large sec
ton of the contract has been Sublct
with tho authority of the council
Progress on construction has been SO
pitifully slow as to cause grave UNI
casincss. Tho contractors holding a
S26S. 100000 contract. are under but ~
hundred thousand dollar bond for the
completion ri IA work as specified.
Moreover. the city. through failure 20
deliver certain construction material.
notably iron pipe, has lain itself open
to ALLOW thu contractors to waive the
limo limit for completion Of the work.
an opening of which the contractors
have already aNliled themselves in a
written communication 20 the council.
II is stated upon reliable authority
that this s30G.oo0 already contracted
TO be spent. will moi cover the cost of
completing the work now under way,
II u ever is completed.
How much more will ~ COST
Providence alone can tell. II is cer-
that the democratic administra-
ton does not know.
In addition TO the Si3.o50 interest
each year. one year OF which has al
ready been paid. and which viii have
70 be paid for another. and probably
Two Years more iiefnrc 4 sewer comes
into U.S.. Iu addition 10 the charge Tor
cicanine. repairs. etc. this sewer ~Ns
tenis This ce"n"inicltl . fsfs2. QUO. 90 J