The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1911-06-30
FACTS and FIGURES
ON WATER SITUATION
Meter Problem, Rate Question And
Other Points Of Interest Taken Up
And Impartially Discussed

s2l.000.00 per year, which is ten per
cent on the Investment, it will be seen
that our grand total receipts lacks s4.-
425.OO OF meeting expenses, since the
department could hardly be regarded
as being a paying institution unless
the revenue meets the interest on its
bonded Indebtedness.
Another contention is made that the
service charge for connection to the
main is prohibitive, that more con
sumers would be obtained if the fee
was reduced. The department made
100 connections last year, collecting
therefore $1,770.00 and after deduct
ing all expenses, realized a profit Of
$4,000 which is less than $l.00 per
tap profit, surely not unreasonable.
This amount would not have been real
lied, however, had not the writer pre-
pared the connections instead of hir-
ing a plumber Lead pipe is used on
all services, with the best brass goods
obtainable. and it might have been
mentioned that not single hole has
been cut in any Of the street paving
for the purpose Of repairs, which can
be said OF. few cities Of this size.
A word might also be said ~ refer
ence to the members Of the fire de-
partment receiving their salary vouch-
ers drawn on the water fund Now
If they were not paid from the water
fund, an additional tax levy would be
necessary for the maintenance Of the
fire department, and since the reve-
nue. from the water department does
not meet the interest on its bonds, but
does provide sufficient funds to meet
The pay roll Of the fire department u
does not seem that there could be ser
ious objection to this practice
There is another agitation on at this
| time in reference to reducing the rate
on water for the purpose Of preserving
the trees and lawns, covering the
months of July and August. From the
information given it will be seen that
the department is in no condition to
afford the slightest reduction, partic-
ularly when it is known that there is
not dollar in the water fund and
the receipts from the month OF June
win no more than meet the current
running expenses. While it is admit
ted that the dry weather has render
ed it difficult to save the lawns and
trees, yet the condition does not JUS
tify the decentralization Of the water
department that is sure to result from
such an experiment which will simp-
Iy create an additional deficit which
the tax payer will have to pay. Fur
thermore, the reduction as proposed
VIII not assist those for which it is
intended to benefit. as the consumer
using limited amount of water dur
ing the month Of June will get very
little discount in July while the large
consumer who is both willing and best
able to pay will reap the benefit
From abusiness standpoint not word
can be said ID its favor. As well have
the city engage in the mercantile bus
mess and sell merchandise at half
price.
In conclusion it should be said that
fully ninety per cent Of water plants
owned BY municipalities are failures.
which is largely due to just such agi-
tat.on as we have had for the past
vear coupled with the activity Of in
dividual members Of the council and
certain citizens who Intentions may be
good or bad (the result is thesame)'
to always effect some change in the
departments methods or regulations
according to their fancy, As matter
Of fact. there Is not private business
enterprise in our city today that could
remain in business six months under
the agitation above referred to. u
will be remembered that only few
years ago. proposition was subs
mitted to place this department in the
hands Of private company any many
favored the proposition freely admit
ting that the city was helpless n the
matter and could never make the
plant produce sufficient revenue to
pay operating expenses. Considering,
then. that we have at this time one Of
the most efficient water plants IN the
state. there is no reason why We
should return 70 the conditions above
referred to. and 80 far as the writer 8