Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-11-12
CONTINUED From Page u N

l
) | ing the six months ending April
1911, and therefore for the presen
purposes should not be considered II
r estimating the indebtedness of the city
!, The city has in it's treasury $4,000
!, which can be used only for thu
I purchase, building or improvement o
water works, $5S,6OS.S2 being from (
direct levy under the law for sucf
purposes and $21 ,702.87 from forfeiture
: of hydrant rentals.
Should the city purchase the watel
, works, as contemplated, its indebted
ness and it's ability to make improve
ments and extensions of the same car
be thus summarized:
Permissible Indebted.
ness SoS4,Uut
Present Indebtedness $248, 900 &
Purchase of water
/ works ............ 2S0, 900 ,OOt
i Leaving as additional
| Indebtedness al
4 lowed ........... $4,000
\ AS the purchase of the water works
is to be made by issuing S275,0OO in
bonds, and the payment of $4,000 in
cash, there will be left in the city
treasury $4,000 available for I'M
mediate use in the improvement of the
plant, together with so much of the
$4,000 of additional permissible in
debtedness as it may deem wise to
incur.
AS nearly as can be determined, dur
ing the past two years the expenses
of the city have exceeded the income
by about $4,000 per annum, and for
that reason your committee would not
consider it prudent nor safe to esti-
mate using to exceed 100000 for i'm
mediate improvements of the water
plant, if purchased.
Various estimates are made by those
who favor municipal ownership of
water works and the results in other
cities are cited to- sustain their con-
tention-that the operation Of the
water works will prove profitable and
that surplus will result from such
operation which can be used for max
ing additional Improvements. But con-
ditions vary greatly in different cities.
So much depends on the successful
management Of the plant and as to
how much increase there will be in the
revenues through the securing of
greater number Of consumers, that
your committee is unable to make any
definite estimates along these lines.
However, we think it quite proper and
very important to state, that Mayor
Hartman, VINO will have the appoint
ing of the three trustees, who, under
the law have the entire control and
management Of the plant, if owned by
the city, assures your committee that
the men appointed as trustees will be
of type, as to character and ability,
of certain individuals whom he named,
which assurance was gratifying and
entirely satisfactory to every member
of the committee.
A majority of your committee, as =
business proposition, are opposed to
municipal ownership of public utilities,
believing, as rule, that such matters
can be better and more economically
managed under private than public
ownership, and some members of the
committee believe that, under all Of
the circumstances and the conditions
of the plant, it should have been pur-
chased for less price than $2S0,O00.
But it is fair to consider that the Pub
lie Water company is in reality re-
ceiving only s24S.000 for the plant, as
the forfeited hydrant rentals amounted
to about $4,000, for which the city
has received the service, 21,702.S7
having been collected and forfeited
during two years Of the time and the
levy for one year omitted.
Taking into consideration the entire
situation as it confronts us. while we
can feel assured of continuation Of
present conditions, as to fire protec.
ton and water for other purposes, the
same is insufficient and unsatisfactory
and there is no apparent chance for
any relief for years to come through
the present ownership or by change
of ownership.
Your committee is unanimously OF
the opinion that. a continuation of pres
ent conditions will not only retard the
growth and prosperity Of our city, but /.
is serious menace to the health and
lives of the people Unless better
water supply, with proper sewerage, is !
provided, so as to improve the sanitary
conditions of certain thickly settled
portions Of our city, there is serious
danger of an epidemic of disease from
which scourge no part OF the city
will be immune.
In view of all of the above consider
ations, your committee have waived
their individual objections, as to form
of ownership and the purchase price,
and earnestly recommend to the vot-
ers of the city the ratification of the
contract for the purchase by the city
of the water plant as submitted by the
city council.
H. L. Waterman.
s. H. Harper.
J. r. Hackworth.
Frank Won Schrader.
T. H. Picker