Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-03-27

word had" That word, which he
abuses so much is made the scape-
goat for poor business management.
He says in part, Had the city co.
Iected So a month rental fer hydrants
had the city collected $50 per annum
per school (the use OF Latin words
in connection with English. is great
ly to be deplored, so say the liter
airy lights of the world-this little
information is free, Mr.. Engineer)
and had the public buildings been
charged for the water used, the city
would have received $83, 700 to date.
Now in the name of common sense,
why has the city not kept a set OF
books to show just why all these
had" apologies are necessary 1t
was not until Mr.. Cohen became7 May
or that any attention was paid to
the water department and an effort
made to find out what that depart
ment was doing.
According to the Engineer, the city
pays 90 cents to furnish thousand
gallons of water. 1t very generous
ly sells the same to the consumers
for a trifIe over cents a thousand
gallons. The total income Of the wa
ter department for the last fiscal
year was $9,20656. The total expense
was S10,367.6 a slight deficiency of
only $1161 .05. Now, if the city can
make such a stupendous success of
the water department under muni-
cipal ownership as to run behind ST.
1.05 in one year, what do you sup
pose it would be able to accomplish
in the way of a deficit ii the electric
lighting system comes under muni-
cipal ownership. Even an idiot can
conduct a business so as to have 1t
run behind, but it takes business
brains to conduct a business and make
money. So far, in connection with
the water department, the city has
failed to make money. 1t seems that
to the ordinary intelligent mind that
Engineer PhiIleo could not have used
a more forcible way of showing that
the city has not been able to make
a success of the water department
than by the damaging admissions he
has made in the article alluded to in
the foregoing He finishes his ar
ticle with these words, AS to the
trial balance above mentioned, it is
just what it's name implies, and
orders have been, received by the rate
commission TO try again, as they do
not seem to be satisfied with the
showing made"
Well, no one should be surprised
that the rate commission has told
them to try again for a trial balance
and that they are not satisfied.
The genral public of Grand Rapids
has been asking what it meant and
the general public has certainly NOT
been satisfied.
NOV, geIrtn9 reader Just reIlfehl-
Der that tile CITY tuSllASCA1 -" -
Pmlleo, has stated in a public news
paper that it cost the city 90 cents
to furnish 1000 gallons of water dur
ing the last fiscal year or $10, ,367.61
for 4,873, ,297 gallons consumed. That
the city received cents for a 1000
gallons or SO 9,2O6.56 for 114,S73 ,297
gallons consumed. That the city
LOST by poor business management
S1,161.O5 in this water department
Now, can you see your way clear,
Mr.. Taxpayer, to vote the city the
right to take over the electric light
ing plant?
Mr.. PhiIleo also makes the state
ment, but this being a matter OF
bookkeeping would be literally taking
money out of one pocket and putting
it in another; so what's the use.
| This in reference to the ciyt's charg-
ling itself hydrant rental (Which the
law says must be done) and charg-
ing schools and public buildings