The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1912-10-05
Saturday, October 5, 1912.
TOWN COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.

Of Aldermen held this day, the fol-
lowing members were present:
A. 3. Briant, Mayor; G. W. New
man, Geo Rettig and Joe Stern,
Board.
Minutes of last meeting were read
and adopted.
Invitation from Baton Rouge to at
tend State Reunion read.
Mayor and Marshal reported 10
cases.
Road committee report read and
filed.
Engineers report read and filed
Secretary submitted statement for
run of Plant from March 1912 to
September, 1912, as follows:
st. Francisyille, La, Sept. 4, 1912.
To the Mayor and Board of Alder
men. City of st. Francisville, La.
Gentlemen--I hereby submit the fol-
lowing reports:
Trial balance of Plant books be-
fore close, September 4, 1912.
Trial balance of Plant books af-
tel close, September, 1912.
Comparative statement showing eX-
penditure and revenues for the same
months in 1911-1912.
While the comparative statement
shows a loss of $436, after we con-
slider for moment that the last six
months that has passed was fraught
with unusual occurrences which we
all hope will not happen soon again,
(although they could not be avoided)
cost the town as we'll as the entire
community and country a heavy fl
nancial loss.
Our expense account as we'll as
the fuel and oil shows an increase,
but during the flood when all were
working overtime the lights were
burned all night, and when Bayou Sa'
IA was finally inundated we had ,wO
: towns in one and with a very few
exceptions our light rental did no:
increase. Our revenue loss in Bayou
: Sara was as follows:
Electric energy per month
$500; 8 months. ..... $228.O0
: Water rentals per month
3l.59; 8 months. ..... 94.77
$32277
s AS this is the first statement rem
dered this Council, l will call your al
tention to the fact that | have not
allowed the Plant any credit for ser
vices performed for the city. In
good many towns there is tax lev
led for this purpose, but as the Plant
5 belongs to the taxpayers and they
derive the benefit from the street
lights, street sprinkler, public water
ing troughs, ETC., it is best not tc
burden the taxpayers.
For your information, l below quote
a list of different services perform
ed by the Plant for the Town:
Mule Barn, 16 c. p. lights.
School House, 1 16 C. p. light.
Jail Lane, 16 C. p. light.
Magearl lane, 1G c. p. light.
Catholic Hill, 1e c. p. light.
&c 100 c. p. street lights.
8 public watering troughs
Water at stable.
% fire hydrants.
All the water used in the public
watering of The streets.
From the above list it can easily
be seen that if the municipality die
not own the Plant there would have
to be levied a tax to pay the above
services.
| have several times before call
ed the attention of the Board to thu
wanton waste of water by the citi
Zens and subscribers Of the town
and it seems that all taxpayers LOSE
sight Of the fact that when loss o
water occurs it is a loss to every
taxpayer. We have an Ordinance
which was passed for the purpose 0
giving the Mayor and Marshall au
thOrity to arrest anyone taking wat
er from any hydrant when they then
selves are not subscribers. If thi
= waste of water is not curtailed il
some manner the Board will be fore
cd to resort to water meters; an
\ if the citizens could only realiZ
/ the cost and dissatisfaction in wa
er meters they would exert ever
effort to help curtail this wanto
waste.
AS we have only burned fuel o
for approximately one month, it la
not been sufficiently tested to a
low criticism, but in the month sam