The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1913-11-12
THE WATER RATES
SHOULD BE LOWER
Practical Views Of Samuel w. Spark.
Expressed in a Communication to
The Borough Council.

Attorney Samuel w. Sparks, of
Camden, who owns cottage in Pleas
antville and spends the summers here,
recently prepared and had passed on
first reading by Council an ordinance
to regulate the rates to be CHARGED
consumers of water in the borough.
The matter has been lying dormant
since, but Mr.. Sparks has now ad-
dressed letter to the officials as fol-
lows:-
To the Borough Council of the Bor-
ough of Pleasantville:
Gentlemen:-.
There could be no greater question
before you than the one offered by
which it is hoped to amend the ordin-
ance regulating the supply of water
passed Feby. 5th, 1902.
This question is of so great import
that | feel justified in suggesting that
all other matters should be laid aside
until this is settled. Water should be
the freest of all commodities for it
is the one that either guarantees
health or disease: if its use is unre-
strained it is guarantee of the health
OF the town; while if it is restrained,
whether by being too dear for the con-
sumer or by any other process what
ever, it guarantees all the diseases of
the catalogue. No town can be sani-
tary without the free use of this COM
modify. Water is universally demand
ed by men, women and children as
an absolute necessity to support life.
| have no fight with the Pleasant
/ Vllln WatQr Cnnanonxy
any more than | would have with any
body corporate that claimed toll. and
excessive toll at that, for the right
TO use one OF natures most generous
gifts to the people. The present me-
thods OF operations of that company
granted by former council, is the
most radical and outrageous act to
draw unearned monies from the peo-
pie that l have ever seen or heard of.
Where else, in all American civiliza-
ton, can you find government that
has granted to a company the right
and privilege to assess and collect
from the people, tax for water, that
will about double your income of
taxes for real and personal property?
Had the old council given that COM
pany all the taxes of the Borough for
the water supply, the Borough would
have been much better off.
If the water company's complaint
that 1t is poor is to be considered, |
desire to ask, what has that to do
with the consumer" No company
should be granted a franchise of the
people, when it is too poor to carry
out its business. Nor should it be so
poor that it is unable to carry the
business along until the time when it
will pay All such businesses are Gre
ated with the fullest understanding
that 1t "will not make a return pay
ment until after the investment of the
money that will establish the plant"
Why then should the Pleasantville
company be made an exception to this
universal rule of investments By
what rule of finance does it call upon
the people to pay the investment mon
ey for the plant?
The claim that water rents do not
pay the necessary interest on the
bonds should not be a matter of con-
sideration for you. And this for sew
eral reasons among which may be
suggested question, "to what am
cunt have bonds been issued? For
what? Were any issued for more
than the real value of the property
purchased? If SO, how many are
watered bonds ?"
When the ordinance was passed the
Council was not informed of its full
import, nor could it have been so in
formed without experiencing condi-
tion at which we have just arrived.
Therefore, the remedy. 1t is your
duty to do that intelligently, what
your predecessors would have done
with the light you now have.
You are asked to amend the ordin-
ance in the following particulars, viz:
The ordinance says, "1f the mini
mum meter rate is not paid in ad-
vance the meter rate shall be fifty
cents per thousand gallons, shall be
made to read, "1f the minimum rate is
not paid in advance the same shall be
charged at the rate of 5000 per thous-
and gallons"
The old ordinance says, "The said
Water Company shall have the right
to charge either by flat or meter rate
as it may elect" Should be made to
read, "The consumer or landlord shall
have the right to elect to be charged
either by said fiat rate, or ten dol
ldio pei ySdI III duNduCS, VI W pay
by meter rate"
| have enumerated but few of the
proposed amendments, but enough to
call your attention to some of the real
points at issue.
The rates of 80 and so cents per
thousand gallons is not only prohibi-
tive but is ridiculous. A quart of
milk left daily at your homes costs
less than the water left there. A
family of four will eat pound of for
ty cent butter in four days, but it
costs less than the water they use.
Water rates in Camden are 10 cents
per 1000 gallons; in Stockton Ga part
of Camden) it costs 5 cents per 1000
gallons; while in your Borough it
costs more than taxes, that is, the
income from the water service is "a
bout double what your taxes on real
and personal property amounts to. 1t
| r..