La Junta tribune., 1912-04-20
A JuNTA IL on a cash basis
for the first time in its
history. Every city warrant

Is payable In spot cash, and
on April lst there was cash on hand
in the various funds amounting to
$50. 1853. One year ago there were
registered warrants outstanding In
the water plant fund amounting to
$5.76l6 6S. and all of these have been
taken up during the past year from
the revenues Of the water plant.
This is the first time since 1904
that the water plant fund has been
anywhere near on a cash basis. That
year the water plant incidental fund
had registered warrants outstanding
amounting to about $2l 900. This
was the year when our city dads
bought up all Of the prehistoric water
rights on the headwaters OF the Ar.
kansas, with the intention Of bring.
Ing the supply down through the
Otero ditch, impounding the water
In filtration basins south OF town
and using mountain dew" a.
source OF supply for the city OF La
Junta. This mountain dew dope was
used In our municipal pipe dreams for
a year or more and all the town got
out Of It was lot OF rather expen-
siye experience.
In April. 1905. the water plant In.
cidental fund had registered warrants
outstanding amounting to $l7.O6S.49.
and a year later the fund was over
drawn to the amount Of 4l1.92s. II
has been getting less and less each
year. and this year II v1s finally
wiped out altogether. Uqlsss the
Dssesat city 1ads seaEA ~ kheN spli-
(lAg aon1U - Sassr IN U06kf q
|eeao1n on q cash basis until the
end Of time. During the past year Il
has paid the interest on 100000 OF
water plant bonds. amounting TO
q. $50 per annum. and the fuel and
operating expenses Of the plant
amounting to 3S.330.7S. and made
showing Of net earnings amounting to
$6.OS7.l9. or over $500 per month
profit. Ia municipal ownership prac-
ticai' Does It pay, Can Il munich
pal plant be operated succe Isfuliy7
From La Juntas experience there Is
only one answer to these three ques-
tions-it is. II does. II can.
Al the last meeting OF the city
council the annual reports OF City
Treasurer Fisher and Water Com.
missioner Brown were read. The re
ports show that the city OF La
Junta Is In good shape financially.
and that with the exercise OF rigid
economy this excellent condition can
Be continued until the end OF the
year. The city has more money on
hand than II had during the last year
Of the saloon regime. and the levy
for city purposes has been the same
every year since the town went dry
~ Il was for several different years
under the saloon reGime-twenty.five
mills. with the exception Of this
year. For the year 1911 an addition.
ai levy Of one mill was made for the
purpose Of joininx.the Santa Fe In the
work OF parking and beautifying the
desert waste along First street. from
San Juan 70 Ration avenue. The city
b nov ready to proceed With this
work. - the money II available. just
- soon - the Santa Re says the
word. Everyone will admit that II
Will b. . good Investment. - Il viii
advertise the Old town among the
thousands Of passenger that pass
through this city more than any other
scheme. basehali or otherwise. that
could possibly b. Devised. City
taxes are not any higher than they
were under the saloon regime. mum.
seous. various and sundry arguments
70 ths contrary Notwithstanding. You
viii have 70 look 70 the school levy
and tie county levy 70 fiad . solution
q yosr high taxes.
A statement a the rscslpts and
Aisbusssasats ef he city Of Ia
1unla ~ ~ yssP sallag Apsn I.
1913. 10 - opojows:
RDCB1PTD.
Balance Apsil !. 1911 :. - sass
Plu0bsSs'. ps619ess' hceaee 313.oo
USay .. .. .. O7.b0
f00s '' I: - - =. - SSS.so
County treasurer. taxee eoa.
isetsl :. :. :. :. :. :. ss.7ss.ss
Csosat ooatfactoet 1ieeass se.eo
TAaoAss 80 eAev :. >. :. ~
Au1o sa1 0oeoeeye)e :. .. N.te
ps1nt1A9 oe1lnnneo L. Juats
1oo O. fs.Aa