The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-10-27
FOREShAD0WS SnAkE-UP
IN WATER DEPARTMENT
Invoice Of Plant at Pumpl'g
Station viii Be Made With
View Of Purchase By City

General shaking up of the water
business OF the city was foreshadow-
ed in the meeting of the city council
last night. when it was decided that
Ian invoice should be taken at once
Of the power plant with view to pur-
chase: when Examiner Burlingame
submitted his final report from inves-
tigation of the commissioner office;
when councilmen started to resolve
not to use any more free water and
We're told by the city attorney they
had no right to such a perquisite
anyway.
The special committee in charge
of the proposed taking over OF the
pumping plant by the city submitted
recommendation that an invoice
be taken to ascertain the original
cost and the present value. The re-
port was adopted ana it is expected
the invoice win be ready for the
next meeting of council.
Refunding Issue Imminent
TO cover the cost Of taking charge
of the water plant entire, to provide
for he avy bills of the electric light
ing company and to take care Of 9th
make an issue of refunding bonds.
This indebtedness can be put into
bonds through action of council and
the order of the district court. The
debts take the form of judgments
and are then funded in such cases.
An addition of 100000 or over to the
bonded debt of the city may be eX
pected.
Outstanding Judgments
City Attorney Hepburn reported on
the Judgment roll, with interest to
Jan. /, 1912, which is believed to be
about as early as the proposed issue
can be arranged The judgments, ac-
cruing for several years, now amount
to $22,91t.3S. This does not include
an electric light anu power bill for
81 900, which is to be added, The
purchase price of machinery at the
power house may be added.
Summary of Water Report
Chairman Bruce, Of the finance
committee reported General Burl-
ingame's audit of the water commits
accounts The auditor had
that there had been loss to
the city of over $4,000 by reason of
collections The final report
shows that from July T. 1911, the cash
collections from sale of water were
SIS, 1855 The Office expenses, salaries,
etc, and general up-keep Of the sys |
tenn were S363G; pump house salaries
etc, $1,164.65: iron and lime, S449.55;
power for wash water, pump and |
lgitator, $12976, cost of pumping, !
S8,981 .06 total cost $l4,66636; gain, |
81 41S.64.
For the quarter ending October L.
1911. there was a heavy loss. The |
cost was S43215S; the collections, |
b2,S9S.92. In October, however, it is |
reported, the collections |
nave been very heavy. The three |
reported on were light pump |
ng months, also.
The Book Of Revelations
Councilman Bruce started a fight 70 |
Jass a resolution forbidding council |
nen and other city employees from |
Ising the city water without paying. !
There was considerable sparring ANA
lodging the issue. but the resolution |
seemed likely to pass. City Attorney
hepburn stopped the squabbie by |
an opinion that the saia
officials have no right to use the city I
water free. and he intimated trouble /
or the users hereafter.
This ended the matter for the pres
mt, and the enforcement OF the no
,ay, no water rule Is now a matter
If administration.
The report OF the examiner shows
hat practically every member OF tae
council for several years and numer-
,us other officials have been using
he water without paying anything.
n some cases the bills are toward
$50. This list runs up 10 over $1,000.
There is another list of patrons who
lave not paid They are neglected
accounts. removals. disputes, etc.
rhey are TO be published in Tle Lead
r.
The shaking up started by the eX-
miner and forwarded by council is I
ikely to result in big payments 10 I
he city and the breaking up OF the
soft snap Of many people. /