The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-08-02
NEWLAND'S IDEA
Commissioner Would Have
City Pay for Water.
And Thus Equalize Tax for
Big and Little Users.

Commissioner F. M. Newland has
asked the city commission to authorize
the appropriation of an additional s15,-
600 for the coming year to help pay for
the water that is used by the city
in its various departments. and in
fighting fires. What disposition the
commission will make of the matter is
problematical. But Newland has made
quite study of the situation and is
advancing strong arguments in favor
of the fairness of such a suggested &C
ton.
At present the city is paying into
the treasury of the water department
the sum of $4,000 a year, which is
hydrant rental on a basis of 800 hyd-
rants. But there are 500 hydrants in
the city. Newland wants the city to
pay the extra rental, and believes 1t
only is fair that it should.
But it does not stop there. 1t is UNI
fair to the smaller consumers of water
and to all consumers for that matter
to ask them to pay all the fire pro-
lection enjoyed by the city as whole
And to prove that he has compiled
figures showing the small amounts OF
revenue derived from many of the big
Industries of the city who enjoy the
fire protection, and are not paying for
the water that protects them.
The fire department primarily pro-
tectS the property of the whole city
Newland urges that the property of the
whole city ought to be taxed to pay
for that water. 1t isn't fair, he says,
for the small consumer. or any con-
sumner, to carry the load.
Under the law whereby the water
department is operated, it must make
expenses, and must furnish the neces-
sary water for fire protection. The cost
a%ra,- fTVn zoo
ton, as we'll as every other purpose,
now comes out of the consumers in a
high rate. No corporation would stand
for such a state of affairs, Newland
says. and he doesn't think that the city
should do so.
Some of the figures Newland has
compiled are interesting. The indus
tries which enjoy the most benefit from
fire protection, including the big mills
and lumber yards, as a rule are paying
comparatively little for water. The
list includes the Wolff Packing COM
pany and the Seymour Packing COM
pany. and others, as well as the big
dry goods stores on Kansas avenue
and the hotels.
Here are few illustrations the fig
ures showing the amount paid for wa
ter last year:
Continent mills, s15.S5; Topeka Milling
company, $16S0; Kaw Milling company,
$19.05; Inter-Ocean mills, 5000; Crosby
Milling company, $3.50; Wolff Pack
ing company. 1885; Seymour Packing
company, $3.50; w. I. Miller Hardware
company. $3.50; Crosby Brothers,
$13915; Warren NJ. Crosby, $31.2O; Mills
company, S456.75, and many others.
On the other hand Newland, taking
the figures of Professor Beens, an auth
ority on water consump tion, figures
that the city uses for all purposes an
average of 10 gallons per day per car.
ia. On a population of $4,000, which
certainly receive water, it would mean
the use of 100000 gallons a day, and
at % cents per thousand gallons would
mean a cost of about 1925 a year
of which the city at present is paying
$4,000. So he has figured that it is
appropriate another $4,000 toward pay
ing the expenses of the water plant
Now the small consumers as a rule,
because they bear the brunt of the
burden, are paying for the expenses of
the department, are paying the i'm
provement bills, have paid for the big
new pump that is being installed, and
are paying most of the expense of in
stalling extensions. Newland says it
isn't fair, and is going to make a fight
against it.
If the commission will give him the
money he asks he promises an immedi-
ate reduction of the present rates of
rs per cent, or at least to 35 cents
per thousand gallons. That would help |
a good deal. And if the next legisla- !
ture provides for benefit districts to !
take care of extensions to the mains |
it will mean reduction of another |
% per cent, or a rate of % cents per
thousand gallons, which Newland |
n ink 70 no