The Topeka state journal., 1914-01-17
Best IN HIS story
City Waterwerks Shovu1no
Makes . Record.
Topeka Sold e11O,4os Worth q
Water IN 1918.
INVESTMENT Of 4 Mlllm
Moro Than 9300, 900 Added to
Original esso, 900 Outlay.
Nearly 400 Meter Services Add
ed During Year.


A statistical story Of tho growth of
Topeka, Of the success Of municipal
ownership and Of the efficiency Of the
local waterworks system II told today
In the annual report OF Frank q Stev-
ems. assistant superintendent Of the
Topeka water supply organization. A.
sistAnt superintendent Stevens shows
that in the last year nearly 100 meters
have been added to the Topeka oys-
tenn. He informs the Taxpayers that
Topeka has sold $11o.lo worth Of water
in twelve months. He points out .
healthy looking account In the G1nking
fund and reveals an investment Of
nearly one million dollars In the local
waterworl9s plant and pipe lines.
The report II the most sAtis0Actory
partment and is indicative. city offi-
cials say, Of the future policy Of the
municipal work. The year 1S13 revealed
Office receipts Of 31A. .674 DiSburoo-
ments amounted to the same figure. In
cluding hydrant rental from the city
and other detailed receipts and the ex.
penses of the department with the op-
erative and constructive figures. the
city shows q clean balance sheet for
the twelve months Of the last year.
spent $4,000 for q new pump and @9e.eeo
for other bettefmeuts and exteno1on0
bringing the total Improvement amount
to $3.50 Other expenses included ~
sos for salaries. :11.o5s for wasee n.eee
repairs. $s.175 for deposits returned and
1858 for merchandise.
In the operating department receipts
of $135.3S9 are shown with expenditures
for the same amount. including interest
on bonds and all other accounts.
How Topeka L. Growing.
In the last twelve months the water
works department has set SOS meters
and issued ses meter permits ,This
tells the story Of Topeka'S growth.
Scores of new houses In the city were
not equipped with water services. The
years additions brings the total city
meter services to 1880. In other
words, the city collects on more than
z. 900 meters each month.
In the year the city sold water
amounting to $110.4O5 in cash. This
is $1,000 more than in 1919 and
above the figures OF any other year in
the history Of the waterworks plant
Topeka represents an outlay OF $685.
900. In March. 1905, Topeka paid
100000 for the waterworks system,
then owned by q private corporation.
Since that time the city has spent
$3O5, 200 on the plant in improve
ments, betterments and extensions.
How about paying for this original
outlay, you ask?
Bonds were issued for the original
purchase price-$620,O0O. Twenty
year bonds. They have run now,
eight years. Meanwhile the water
works department has been contrib
uting to sinking fund for the Dur.
pose Of increasing the earnings Of the
department.
The water department has ON hand
$65.955 In city bonds drawing 4 per
cent interest and $1,000 in city bonds
drawing per cent interest, making .
total of $72.955 in city bonds, all
drawing a good rate Of interest.
1t will be seen by the figures that
Topeka is well fixed financially in the
waterwOrks department and with .
plant worth million dollars at the
service of the taxpayers.