Rocky Ford enterprise., 1910-02-04
FROM FRYING PAN TO r1Rn

Az Aldsrnas Asrth View the coua-
[s Asabsa % Wasse Csa-
60esA
To the Editor of the Enterprise:
Dear Sir: wish to call the atten-
tioa OF your saders to the sbjsetioss
which I eoasides we'll takes. which I
have to the eo.tract OF The Pearl
Syringe Water Company. which coa-
tract BY resolution was entered into
by . vote Of four, to two at q meet
ing OF the city council last. Friday
!. Iher: !. sos pound Of pre''-
.. There 10 practically no forfeit
urs clause On Ne 90 day limit: the
city 10 tied up for fourteen months.
J. II the watsr 10 not pure enough,
there y 20 Wsy 10 terminate the cos
4 The price OF water ss roe ,sr
Rocky Ford esnsot pay it,.
l. TIE city kso ss rinhS - sahur
iato . eossrsef which contemplate .
period Of swsaty ysaSs without ssb.
mitsins ~ sssstiss % . vsse sf Ne
| psoDis 1ssa
! 10 The faes OF sh;s contract. the sax.
paysfs Of 1seky Psrd are eonfSost-
| ed With The moot serious coalition
| thas Ass svef eo0s before tAeR. Osr
| psnpisR piaas whom ta operation
pumps SOW during the six winter
| menSAs osss SAssA hundred thousand
| ssliess 1ss day: AS the price vidsr
the Pearl 0DsinOs esatsscs Of $I.Do
psr Eoath. Wouid make 3o.ooz. Dur
ing the six summer months We con-
sumo At least twice that, making at
least s1.ooo per month aor $i7.ooo'
which totals $4,000 per year for the
We must keen up the system. and
| repair the mains, etc, which will cost
about $4,000 per year ore, making a
total cost of at least $4,000 per year.
We may have to also maintain 4
pumping plant. just the same If there
is no pressure, at just as much cost
as at present But at the lowest tig-
urc of $4,000 per year we will have
TO raise the present water rate to
consumers fully three times what it
is now. to say nothing of interest on
water bonds and a sinking fund for
the principal. The water commits
sioncr reported that from Sept 2Sth
last to January 2Sth four months eN-
actly just past. that the total income
from water receipts were S2,o7,oz or
just about $685. per month This
makes for Al year at the same rate a
total income OF SSoIS.oI and the es-
timated income for the year has been
pu, at only $1,000. Now in order to
raise $4,000 any one can figure just
how much the rates will have to be
| increased and the increase makes the
use of water prohibitive Instead OF
| 7Sc for the first thousand. the rate
| will have to be s.25 and SO on in pro-
portion.
La Junta averaged during the last
| twelve months 4 total consumption
per month OF over 20 millions OF gal
Ions: AT Ioc per thousand. she would
| have to paw over $4,000 per month:
Is La Junta foolish enough to pay
the sum of $4,000 year for water
when she pays now but about $1,000:
Last July La Junta consumed ooo.-
COO gallons per day ami at Ioc thou
sand this would make the enormous
sum of S2.7oo for the month. The
council at La Junta will submit to
the people for their votes the differ
ent water propositions and see what
they want. This is right and as 1t
should be.
In addition to this our own council
by a majority vote have decided to
abandon the present pumping plant
and buy a new outfit suitable to the
electric light plant which will fur.
nish power at $50 per month and
free water to the plant. and the city
buy all repairs. The changes are
costing the city at least 5000 and
over $1,000 per year for power and
all repairs, etc, makes I cost for the
coming year greater than any year in
the history OF the city. All the
changes are done without consulting
the city engineer, one OF the best in
formed machinery men in our midst
and contracts are let to the electric
light plant without bids. contrary to
the law, and everybody knows how
~ electric light company has treat
ed the city ior years in poor sefvice
and high price for such service. Ii
is a most unwise and unbusinesslike
condition and every taxpayer ought
to inform himself, for the city is 60
ing into debt more than ever before
without sufficient cause.
In addition to these things we must
stop all plans for municipal plant,
the best thing the city ever had in
contemplation. from the Apishaps.
and st y all deals with other eompan-
les desiring to furnish water and
any orc Of which i superior 10 the
rcarl Springs contract