The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-09-29
SHOULD OBTAIN HIGHEST
" GRADE EXPERT ADVICE
A Prominent Virginian Points
Out Phases Of Light and Water !.
Question and Makes Recon-
mendations as to Procedure
Toward Municipal Own !:
erahip. J

mendations as to Procedure
Toward Municipal Own !:
ership.
Virginia, Mimi, Sept. q, 1911.
To the Editor Virginia Enter
prise. !
Dear Sir: Il
Noticing that the vital question
now before the people of Virginia
is the municipal ownership of the
water and light plant, you might
give space to a few words from
one who has seen the inside and
outside workings of both munich
pal and corporate water and light
plants which might be Of interest
and service to them.
In the first place in their desire
for a better water and light SER
vice they should not plunge head
long into any proposition NOM
inally for that purpose without
first knowing that it is going to
bring satisfactory results in the
most economical and efficient
manner. The recall of aldermen
because they were not loud
mouthed advocates of municipal
ownership, the appointing Of wa
ter and light commissions none of
whose members had more than
the most rudimentary knowledge
of either water or light, will not
forward the movement but re-
tard.
There are many expert engi-
neers who have made a study of
such problems a life's work and
whose advice can be obtained and
it is to such as these that the
people through their council
should call for advice. Thou
sands Of dollars can be saved and
satisfactory results insured.
Virginia needs the very highest
grade Of expert advice upon this
question for it not only involves
the possibility Of purchase of the
existing plant Of rather doubtful
value and undoubted inadequacy
even for the present requirements
but the future source of supply as
well as an adequate system of
street mains require the consider
alton of some one Of wider exper-
fence than possessed by any engi-
neer on the range or St. Louis
county.
Municipal ownership as seen
by the writer is far from the relief
for all water troubles unless its
operation is placed in the hands
OF competent men, which is rarely
done. The majority of municipal
owned water and light plants are
run at a loss not through graft
ing or dishonest practices but
from downright incompetence
and ignorance of the men in
charge.
In one particular case so per
cent of the water pumped into
the mains leaked out before it
reached the consumer and Is per
cent was wasted by the consum.
er by defective plumbing and
carelessness Of those paying fiat
rates. The receipts Of the water
department balanced the operat.
ing expenses not including inter.
est on the bonds covering the cost
of construction of any deprecia.
ton. The taxpayers had to pay
for this useless waste that benefit.
ted nobody. The same plant was
placed under the absolute control
of competent engineer consult.
ing with one of the leading au.
thorities on water works and it is
fast becoming one of the most
efficient and profitable plants in
the country.
Likewise a light plant under
municipal management came un.
der the writer's observation. II
required complete reconstruction
and had to be placed in com.
petent hands before it gave eth.
er satisfactory service or was not
a drain on the taxpayers. Thus
it is that good intentions are not
all that is necessary for results
and the citizens of Virginia had
better be careful in matters Of
this kind.
Had either Of these plants beer
under corporate management
they either would have beer
operated economically or would
have charged exorbitant rates tt
cover the deficit caused by thei1
incompetency as may possibly bt
the case with the situation in Vir
ginia.
AS a citizen of Virginia and 6
fellow sufferer of the present pub
lie service exactions the writer
wishes to see the municipality
proceed at once along the mos1
businesslike and rational lines K
procure the absolute control of al
| n,1h1io corv;oa 0noF nf Tho xuoro.