The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1911-02-22


DR.. w. H. Carver to be used by the
city engineer in securing information
as to the cost and feasibility Of es-
tablishing a municipal light plant of
1900 horsepower, and Mayor Schott
announced that he had that day filed
on a power site in the Naches river
at the intake of Gleed ditch.
This action came after the reading
of the report of the committee of
which Fred e. Shaw is chairman,
which toured the coast cities and
went extensively into municipal
water, light and paving matters, and
which recommended that the city
own its own water and light plants.
Exorbitant Rates
The report showed that North
Yakima had been paying more for
light and water than any other city
in the northwest. The mayor, in his
remarks announcing the filing on the
power site, stated that the Pacific
Light & Power company was willing
to make no reductions in the price of
light furnished the city and he
thought the only way the city could get
city engineer estimated that the peo-
pie Of North Yakima could be served
with light for less than half the
price they are now paying and that
such a plant, which would cost from
100000 to $250,00O would still leave
a profit for the city.
Chairman Shaw went even farther
and said that the city could serve the
people for one-quarter of the cost
and still make money. 1t would not
cost much to string the wires. as
the tops of the poles of the street
car company could be used for that
purpose
Municipal Plants
The report of the committee also
recommended a municipal water
plant, a preliminary report on the
construction of which had been made
by the engineer. The present city
engineer, II. j. Doolittle, has a plan
to build a water plant in two units
which would care for a city of 10000
Inhabitants. These two units would
provide two reservoirs, only one OF
which need be built at present, the
second unit to be added as the city
grew to it, Such a system would give
the people of the city pure water and
plenty of it, cheaper than they were
getting it now. The engineer stated
that the proceeds from the first unit
could be made to lay the mains and
construct the reservoir when that
should be required.
During the consideration of this
report and the action that followed,
the local manager of the Pacific Light
d Power company. Mr. Kingman, was
present, but made no comment, nor
was he asked to say anything. When
1t became evident how matters were
going he threaded his way through
the throng of people who crowded
the council chamber and left the
room.
y Local Company Defiant
1t was stated by the members of
the committee on water, light and
franchise, of which DIR. Carver is
chairman, that they had met during
the past few days with Guy w. Talbot
president, and A S. Grenier, vice
president, of the Pacific Light &
D">A NciiApo bul iluu DccH
able to secure anything whatever
from them in the way of a better
ment of the water and light con-
ditions. The committee had asked
that water mains be placed in the
Modern Addition, and the officials OF
the company said they would lay
mains there if the city secured the
signatures of six property holders In
every block and that each signel
make a deposit of $24. which could
be applied on the water charge later
Following is the report of the
council committee after an investiga.
ton into the public utilities situation:
WATER.
Portland
Seattle, Tacoma and Spokane owl
and operate their water plants. II
every instance it is profitable invest
ment to the city and affords the con
sumner cheap and efficient service, anC
pure water. With municipal plants
the wishes and demands of the con
sumers, who are the stockholders ant
directors of the corporation, are givel
more consideration than it is possible
to obtain from a private company
municipalities make use of the profit
in developing the system by extending
mains, protecting water shed, etc
while private corporations divide tn
profits among the stockholders. Tn
meter system is rapidly being inaugu
rated as a protection against the ex
travagant use of water
Seattle
We quote the following rates:
Seattle rates as follows:
The monthly rates for the use O
water other than measured by meter.
shall be known as FIXED Rates." an
shall be as follows:
Minimum rate, payable quarterly
in advance, per month ......$ SOC
Bath tubs in private residences,
one tub ................. z
Each additional tub .......... L
Building purposes, for plaster
ing, per 100 yards .......... q
For each 1000 brick laid, includ-
ing water for lime ........... Il
Wetting each barrel of lime for
any purpose other than plas-
tering or laying brick ,.... L
Wettine each barrel of cement. 1
Stone work, per perch of 16 h
cubic feet ................ L
Cows, for each COW, whether sup
piled by house service or 9TH