Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1911-05-11
THURSDAY, MAY II. 1911.
CITY WATER CHARGES.

IL first class ana tnib mas p0OH
brought about by the water com
missioners and especially through the
efforts Of J. X. Forney and J. f.
Murphy.
Now let us consider 1t from q
financial standpoint. There are four
items to take care Of:
list. Necessary operating expen'
PES.
End. Proper maintenance of the
property.
3rd. Depreciation charges.
4th. Interest charges ON the In
vestment Of the plant.
An average Of the past three yearV
win give q fair figure on which to
make these estimates.
The first item, operating expense,
will average $1,000 annually.
The second item, maintenance, Ia
somewhat more difficult to deter
mine but conservative estimate
will place this at $500.
The third item, depreciation, is
an item we are not altogether fam
iliar with. Recent court decisions
have called attention in very plain
terms to the necessity on the part
Of water company Of setting aside
in a separate fund an amount which
win at the termination Of the life
OF the company, leave intact the val
ne Of its physical property of the
company, and the company or depart
ment is deeply in error which fails
to lay aside from its annual re-
ceipts proper depreciation charges.
Figuring this at 4 per cent on the
invested capital shows annually
$500.
The fourth item, interest, is eas
fly determined. There are 500, 900
In bonds at 4 IL per cent or annual
interest Of $4,000.
Thus making the total Rmount
necessary to put the water works on
O firm basis of $4,000 annually and
the receipts for 1910 were $11.0O3.-
IA, or $4,000 less than should have
been realized.
> The pumping records show a
daily consumption of water Of $751;
900 gallons on our flat rate, while
Junction City with nearly 300 more
city connections on a mater rate
consumes but $4,000 gallons daily.
Considering a loss in bad connec-
lions and leakage of 10 PER cent,
and allowing that the city uses rs
per cent Of the balance pumped for
wnich 1t pays $4,000 annually, the
consumers pay but $4,000 per year
for some 175,0OO,0OO gallons Of
water. However, largo part Of
this water is lost through careless
ness as for instance Y Inch stream
under go pounds pressure will waste
1864 gallon of water in "a hours.
The question Is only answered in
one way and that is the meter sys-
TEN, and as to whether the consum-
er or the water company should
city connections on a meter rate
furnish the meter. II the latter 1t
would go on a rental basis.
On a meter rate a list OF some Of
the cities OF Kansas Is as follows
on 1000 gallons: Pittsburg 50c,
Winfield soc, Topeka ijc, Ottawa
55c, Wichita S5c, Independence S5c,
Mcpherson 35c, Atchlson sec. Wa
hego soc, TT. Scott csc. Kansas
City. Kan, $50 Minneapolis &c.
The present rate in Abilene is SOc
and II the private consumer will use
100000 gallons daily under a meter
system, with the $4,000 annually
from the city there is no reason why
IN three years the rate cannot be
reduced to zoe per 1000 gallons
These are some Of the conditions
that surround the management Of
the waterworks. The plant belongs
to the city and 1t is manifestly a
loss to the honest user when his
neighbor uses more than he should
and the only way to determine the
enact amount Of water used is to
put everybody on a meter basis
Then as the expense Is reduced there
viii be q reduction in the cost Of
water and the plant win take cart
Of Itself. II viii make the usel
Who Is tOting fair pay less and th'
one Who e robbing the city pa'
re share. It e only right that ev'
s1yons should pay for Jus, what b
-. ana lhs eliy pill generally Ap