Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1910-01-17

NNFSAN ~ SaAO SAVGAh
TO look Into the question OF a munlc-
ipal water system for this city,
synopsis of which was published in
the Press OF Saturday, contains many
interesting figures and much valua-
BILE Information, and in considering
1t the members or the city council.
as well as the citizens. should face the
problem impartlally, and without
prejudice, II they are to reach the
best conclusions as to future action.
The report shows that a system equal
to the present one In capacity will
cost approximately $4,000. This
sum Is $4,000 above our bonding ca
pacity under present valuations, and
should the city officials conclude to
build a system 1t would be necessary
to shave the cost down to meet the
bonding requirements, or raise the
assessed valuation. and the latter
method would make us pay an unjust
proportion OF county and state taxes
which Ia wrong on dts face. These
facts complicate the situation, but
they are not all, as a new system
means competition with the old COM
pany and II is human nature to buy
necessaries where they can be pur-
chased the cheapest. and any person
who imagines that public spirit will
induce consumer TO pay more for
city water than from a private cor
poFation Ii laborlng under a delus.
Ion. People do not do business that
way
Whether the old company would
sell at a reasonable price we do not
know, and neither the city council
or citizens would be able to deter
mine what IL best In the premises
without frst ascertaining whether the
company would entertain a PROPOSE
tion TO sell and at what price. These
facts should be learned and then an
intelligent solution OF the situation
may reasonably be reached; aud we
do not believe the council Is justi-
Ned in going ahead with the consld-
Grafton OF the matter until II has OBJ
tanned oil these facts and figures. The
eompany's price may be p.ohlbit-
i've. but 1t at one time offered the
plant to the city at a much less sum
than the estimated cost OF a new sys-
tenn and we presume the same proper
tionate Offer would hold good. Every
one realizes that It Ia not worth what
a new plant would cost aud It is not
probable the company would 80 con-
alder II.
There is also another question TO
be taken into consideration, and that
IL the legal phase of the matter, The
city has granted a so year franchise
TO the water company. and while that
franchise Is not exclusive. there Is a
grave doubt whether the city could
legally enter into competition with
the company We understand that
there are court decisions holding that
q city has no such power. This Is
matter which ought to be gone into
thoroughly before reaching a point
whore litigation becomes a necessity.
All things considered II looks as
though the city would save money and
expedite municipal ownership by ne
gotiating the purchase OF the present
system II 1t can be bought at the right
price. We believe In municipal own.
ership OF public utilities, especially
In the matter OF necessities such as
water. and II the city can acquire a
system by purchase or construction
It should proceed to do so in accord
ance with the promises and pledges
OF tho candidates who were elected
at the last city election. but do It In
a business way and for the best in
terests of the people.
@uwu
And now General Dnoth Il ranopkaa