Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1914-01-13


when Mayor sellers call9d the
council 90 order in adjourned session
luat night all members were present
with the exception OF Alderman
Thomas. who Is understood 60 have
Lett New Mexico permanently. Pres
eng in the council chamber were
twelve Of the nftecp members of the
special citizens committee on the
water workn question. Those pres
cnt were g. W. Fee. Neill D. Field,
summers Burkhart, y. r. McCanna,
W. A. George A. W. Hayden. = r.
Mclaughlin. w W strong pr W
O.. Hope. Frank D. Wilson. william
llrice ana Alcx craig
w 4. Metcalt pleaded previous
engagement NJ l. stern is out ~
the city ana Simon Stern. the M
tcrnth member did not appear.
Mayor sellers stated the objects
which the city council had IN mind
when the committee was appointed
ana his and the councils ideas JOS to
what the duties Of the committee
| should be-. The questions confront
ing the city government and the peo-
/ pie he said were hrst shall the city
now own It's own water works. Sec
ond shall the city buy the present
plant; third IL so. on What basis
fourth shall the present franchise be
| extended or shall the city build "A
1 new water works system
The mayor said that she council boa
| suggesting "a S750.O0o bond issue had
| not intended Go leave the impression
I in any mind that such "a sum would
be- expended lor the purchase OF the
/ present plant, bat that % would per-
init first purchase. second necessary
extensions and endorsements. and
third a reserve fund 90 meet ala cx-
| igoncics Of the citys development
tie said the councils desire WAS to
keep the water works problem en-
troly ont of politics and Co settle 10 Ca
the city's best advantaec and on the
most satisfactory business basis. SIC
hoped the work might be expected
aud emphasized the importance oi
deciding the matter one way OF am
other "a speedily as possible
Municipal ExpcTf Talks.
Mayor Sellers then introduced
Robert y Mcdonnell OF the municipal
4 engineering nrm OF Burns and Nc
| Donnel OF Kansas CITY Roth MI
| Burns and MIR Mcdonnell have mad,
visits 20 Albuquerque ana preliminary
| inyestisations Of the water condition.
| here. The mayor introduced Mr. Nc
/ Donnei. ne said IN order that the
K committee might have the advantage
| of his experience and knowledge al
/ municipality owned water systems
II Mr.. Mcdonnell spoke az considerable
length. Tie said his Arm had hnd eH
pericnce With some 90 municipalli
owned water plants. having acted u
the capacity Of designers and had ais
acted as appraisers for close 90 on'
hundred privately owned plants which
had been later purchased by mum
CAPABILITIES. He emphasized the i'm
portance Of expert and careful ap
praisemenl, going Ia detail into var
loua appraisal methods, and the Erea
Importance Of such care 10 wy
phase az go avoid inieation, Munici
pal ownership OF water plants he saN
( was not practically universal point
ing 10 the case Of Kansas who're
les plants an hut ~ Rre publicf
owned, Of Nebraska where only @
$50 piants are IN private ownership
and of oklahoma whore there IF "a
si1gle privately owned plant IN IN
state. The large cities Of me coun
Try. he pointed out, an own their ow
plants with the exceptions OF 20
Francisco. indianapolis and Denver
The longer municipal ownership wa
4 postponed. he said. the more dihlcu
Il was 20 ootaln, pointing 90 the cas-
of Kansas City where the hEht 10
. municipal ownership extended over
4 wears and 10 the weil known and Ion
fought, contest FOR the ownership
4 the Denver water works. Tie sal
that modern municipal owuershlp ~
not mean political control and Eraf
but that hy the enforcement Of q
Il nom partisan. efficient plan uf mal
aRement the political element Ia
been largely eliminated ~ th
municipal ownership was proving
omcloni a. private ownership VIII
81 prodnclnH lower rates.
The east. Mr. Mcdonnell said, "
now practically unanimous N