Bisbee daily review., 1910-09-09
COUNCIL 0F DOUGLAS GOES
 SLOW 0A WATER PROBLEM

DOUGLAS. Sept S.-(SpeciaD-
 The board of aldermen met las,
 night. received the reports of the
 water commission, special auditor of
 the accounts of the city, police judge
 city marshal and fire chief, turned
 down an ordinance banning pictures
 of prize fights and bull fights by laying 1t on the table and transacted the ordinary and routine business of the council.
 Most interest centered in the re
 port of the water commission, which contained the recommendations of F, T. Archer as to improvements and extensions. The report of Mir. Archer presents two methods of improving. one covers an extention and enlarge ment of the present Fifteenth street plant by new pipes, mains and hy- drants at a cost of 1000 and the other a practically new plant to the west Of the city, with the sinking of new wells and building of a 10000 loot pipe line to the city. This plan would cost Douglas $S4,SOO. Mir. Archer evidently favors the second plan and states that the first could only furnish 1.O0O, 900 gallons of water at a cost to the city of IF cents, while the latter would have a capacity of 2,eoe,o00 and at a cost to the city of 1z cent, while the annual say ing would be $500 in the expense to the city. The report is long and detailed, covering twenty-one type written pages, and space today does not permit of its publication but the matter is so important to the city and to the taxpayers that the Inter- nationl will publish it in full at the earliest possible opportunity, so that all citizens may familiarize them selves with the recommendations
 The council acted on the matter as was forecasted in this paper and Mayor Wright appointed a committee consisting of Messrs. Hammill, Ram sey, Dowell and Mahoney. The i'm portance of the work to be under taken impressed itself fully on all the board and there is a disinclina- tion to act hurriedly and an inclina- tion to be sure that the water Is ob- tainable and chemically pure before further expense than well drilling shall be entered upon.
 The monthly report of the water commission made the poorest showing since the plant was taken over. The gross income decreased S740.S7 and the net profits for the month of Au- gust, including the interest on the funds on deposit in the banks was s64s.34 as against s14s140 in July, or | a decrease for the month of sS33. .0i. : The net profits for the month, in- cluding merely the operating of the plant and excluding the interest on deposits s3s747, or at the rate of s4400 per annum.
 While this monthly report was on its face disappointing it is readily ac- counted for by the two facts that ( there were more householders out of town in August than any other month of the year, thus reducing the con sumption of water and that heavy |: and copious rains fell during the Il month, minimizing the consumption T ,f water for irrigating purposes. It bore out the wisdom of the commis- sion in not making reductions in the rates upon the basis of receipts and profits up to that time, as had this been done the month of August F would have seen the plant operated t at a loss. h
 Auditor Makes Report.
 H. T. Cuthbert, the special auditor, presented his report in detail and found the books and accounts of the | city in excellent condition as kept, | but made recommendations that the | system be improved so that a bal ! ance sheet might be from time to | time taken and so that the assets of | the city and its liabilities might at |