The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1914-02-05
RACINE TAKES CITY AS MODEL
Hates in Kenosha Show to be Much
Lower Than in Racine Thanks to the
Workings of Municipal Plant and
Good Work of Non-partisan Rule.

Alton B. Adams, an eastern engineer
ing expert, engaged by the city Of
Racine, has been at work in Kenosha
for several days making complete in
yestigation of the plant and business
o. the Kenosha Municipal Water Com
pany and his report to the city of Ra-
cine brings a great compliment to the
city of Kenosha and adds some facts to
the story Of municipal ownership of the
water plant which viii be decidedly
gratifying to the people of Kenosha.
Mr.. Adams has declared to Racine
papers that he was greatly impressed
with the management Of the Kenosha
plant and the manner in which the tax
payers had acquired it, In his report
he goes deeply into the history Of the
plant, its extensions and the manner in
which the city provided for its free
dom from debt. CCmmenting on condi-
lions he is quoted as saving.
'sThat is record which the city Of
Kenosha can justly feel proud of, and
ii can be repeated in this city despite
the fact that certain element is bent
on defeating at this late hour the
wishes of the majority Of the tax pay
ors as shown by the vote registered
when the question of purchase was put
before them for their decision.
System Greatly Enlarged
During the time Kenosha has owned
its plant large amount of money has
been expended for extensions and to-
day there are forty.one miles of mains.
An additional new pump for the sta
ton was installed at cost Of $4,000
and the estimated value of the proper
ty today is about 100000.
This has all been accomplished with
out aid from the city proper. During
the last two years the city has not paid
the commission one cent of hydrant
rental. The schools are being furnish
ed free water, as are also the fire sta
tions and city hall That has meant
great saving for the tax payers who
have been enjoying low water rates
during the years that Racine property
owners have been payin1 about the
highest rates that could be charged
without an uprising. With the cheap
rates in force the commission has been
able to accumulate quite nice surplus
in the treasury and short time ago the
city found that it was trife short in
it's finances 1t wished to build fire
station at a cost of $4,000 and it did
not want to issue bonds for its con
struction. 1t desired to build the sta
tion at once, but was at loss to know
how to proceed until such time as the
new tax money would be available.
This is how the council got around
that proposition. There was over
$4,000 lying in the banks to the credit
of the water commission and on re-
quest the commission loaned the city
the $4,000 out of its surplus funds to
be repaid as soon as the regular taxes
We're collected
Controlled by Conission.
When the plant first came into pos
Session of the city the council elected
commission of three business men,
there being no politics in the selec-
tion. A superintendent was also elect
ed, not on account of any political
preference but solely on his merits.
These men have absolute charge of
the plant
The commissioners serve without
compensation and the superintendent is
paid q salary for the work he does for
the city in connection with the water
plant. lie is also the city engineer and
superintendent the work of that de-
partment. In addition to his salary As
city engineer he receives the sum of
5000 as superintendent Of the water
plant
One clerk is employed in the office
in the city hall. He makes out the
statements and keeps the accounts at q
salary of 500 per month. Collections
are made semi-annually instead of
quarterly as in Racine and in that way
there is a saving of salaries, the latter
plan entailing double the work and
necessarily double the salary expense
and clerk hire.
Thus by strict economy, businesslike
management and determination to con-
daet the affairs of the city as they
would business of their own tho
officials of Kenosha have built up !
plant which cannot be excelled in
this section Of the country.
Difference in Rates.
The benefit which the people of Ke-
nosha are receiving in the matter Of
low water rates can easily be com
puted. For years the residents of Ra-
cine have been paying twenty eight
cents per thousand gallons. In the
city OF kenesha under municipal man
agement the small consumer pays a