Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-04-06

The special water committee rec
commended to the council last night
the granting of new franchise to
the Water supply company provided
suitable concessions were made by
the corporation.
At the same time a letter from A.
b McMilen, president of the Water
Supply company, and a proposed new
franchise, prepared by the company
we're presented. Or. II. l.. Hust, the
only member OF the council who was
also member Of the special water
committee, read the report, letter
and franchise.
The proposed franchise made a
great reduction in the present water
rates 1t also provides that the city
may be able to take over the plant
after April, 1919, by paying the COM
pany reasonable price as a going
concern" the value to be determined
by two experts, one to be appointed
by the company and one by the city.
In the event that they fail to agree
the chief justice OF the state supreme
court is to act as arbitrator.
To Become Effective at Once.
The new franchise would take eff
feet Immediately upon its passage,
giving the consumers the benefit of
the reduced rates at that time. The
present franchise, which calls for
higher rates, does not terminate UNI
til 1919.
The council will consider this mat
ter at a special meeting the time of
which will be set at the adjourned
meeting to be held Thursday night.
The special committee said in its
report that three courses were open
In dealing with water situation. one
was to construct a plant, the second
to purchase the present system and
the th4Fd to extend the franchise The
first, it was pointed out, was too
wastefu, the second would require
bond issue and this was voted down
at once. The committee favored
new franchise under proper condi-
tons
The committees report follows:
Albuquerque, n. NJ, April 5, 1915.
To the Honorable Mayor and City
Council Of Albuquerque
Gentlemen: Your special commit
tee appointed to devise ways and
means for obtaining an adequate wa
ter supply for the city of Albuquer-
Que at the expiration of the present
franchise beg leave to submit its re-
port which is as follows:
Your committee finds that 1t is not
practicable to furnish the city with
gravity water. The distance to bring
such water either from the Jemez
river or from the White Rock can
yon Of the Rio Grande is so great that
me cost Of piping the water to the
lC Iaefs.F IL M
city of the size Of ours. In other
words, the interest on the cost Of
such an aqueduet would amount TO
more than the cost of pumping the
water. Therefore, il is our opinion
that for some years to come our wa
Ter supply Will have to be pumped
Tor the sake of economy.
After corresponding with a number
Of cities In different parts of the
country In regard to prevailing water
rates We have come to the cOnclu-
sion that the rates now paid by the
people OF Albuquerque are certainly
lar TOO high. but as our franchise still
las Tour () years to run, we VIII
Fave to lay the price until the end
ol The present contract
mere are three ways in which the |
~ater supply question can be solved; /
phe Is Tor the city to build a new 7
pant TIE second is for the city to !
purchase the present water system, I
7hu lhe third is an extension OF the
III, prfIesent franchise for a term of years. 4
me hfst proposition appears to us
70 pc too wastefuI to admit consid- !
GRAFTON. The second proposition /
t nseahs tho purchase and operation Of
~ ~ water works by the city With q /
"ls bond issue and was voted down /
oece bcfore-and after all the cost 4
~ supplying water would be uneer~ I
~ 1ah and subject to fluctuations I
ahsfeiore. we favor the granting of a /
wv franchise under the proper /
terms Of conditions.
me owners Of the Water Supply I
,.'olipany are now making a PROPOSE
moa 60 the city for a new franchise
ud nave made this committee ac-
tt;aaihted with the terms and c0ndi-
ms OF the proposed new contract.
lis committee believes that as a
suoie the proposition submitted IS
~ at reasonable; but requires care
ial study and some notifications The /
-. charge of twenty-five cents per
LITER Is apparently Justified. provid-
n; me rates are reasonable We be-
80 tnat In case the new franchise is
F.; s'ahteu, the lower rates should go
INTO effect at once.
AZ, y regard to the charge for hy-
s esants. We belfve that the rate
b5 r5d he governed BY the number Of
,,s'a y, installed but it appears To
s DC s'at N view of the large revenue
draisea from the rental OF fire ny
. and the comparative small
,iiouht Of water used for fire pur-