La Junta tribune., 1915-03-27
WATER PLANT NOT PAYING.
II h Ranaiax Behiad and Il Operat.
ed II Loss-Boads ere Paid BY
Direct TaxatSsa.

ed ~ LOss-Boatik ere Paid by
Direct Taxattsa.
It will probably be news to most
people to be apprised OF the fact that
our municipal water plant il being
operated at loss to the city and that
instead Of being an asset II 10 q liza
bility that will develop into real
burden before many years. This
statement. however. 10 q real fact that
can be demonstrated to the satisfac-
tton Of any one who will take the
trouble TO secure the necessary in
formation from the city treasurer.
1t is quite probable that every
member Of the city council conf
IDENTITY believes that the water plant
10 . paying institution. They be-
lieve II for the reason that the city
clerk has made no complaint OF
lack Of funds. and 10 always ready
to issue city warrants. just as long
as the supply Of warrant books holds
out. In payment of bills allowed by
the city council. The city fathers
never investigate the source OF rev.
enue and find out the exact status Of
the bank roll Of the city. That 10 q
matter that concerns them least OF
all. II there Il no cash on hand in
the particular fund that they want TO
draw upoa II Il very easy matter to
issue excess interest-bearing war
rants 70 a. unlimited amopnt-vary.
ing from a'few hundred to several
thousand dollars. On March 30.
1915. there were outstanding war
rants 10 the water plant incidental
and fnel fund 70 the amount Of S6.-
1910. II business men. when In
financial distress. were permitted to
overdraw their baak accounts 70 an
unlimited amount. which is the same
thins q Issuing excess warrants.
what lovely old world this weold
- for . nan that vas on the vsloe
- bankSuptcy. There wouldn't b .
thias % earth to worry about.
IN e1ltse Of the Tribune has NJ
49, - 5lSSoas % eoo6 many
ehinss during recent years. One 10
he bsoss sasstioa. snd still Others
are the Initiative and referendum. the
direct primary. the recall and the
government and municipal ownership
Of everything on earth. They look
good, sound good. and in principle
they are right. but In operation they
are rotten-and the municipal own
ership Of light plant In La Junta.
II Il is managed ~ the water plant
has been. would develop = series Of
seventy and seven municipal smells
that would ascend unto heaven.
Il has been the general impression
In La Junta that the water plant II
. paying municipal Institution. The
members Of the city council think 70.
but II 10 very doubtful whether .
single member Of that body ever
took enough interest TO Investigate
the matter even for his own satisfac.
tion. That h . sample Of the way IN
which the business Of the city IL con.
ducted. A. long ~ the people fur
nish the money through taxation
thsrs 10 absolutely nothing 70 worry
about. Municipal owaership sAvo-
eatss ase nov eitins our local watss
plsat - . brilliant example Of Tie
succsasful operation Of . municipal
utility. Thsy assert that our water
D)ast 10 Daytag al the suanias q.
Dsasss ef The plaat. along With ths
iatsrsss % The boads. sad The boads
themselves - tbey become due. and
10 time viii pay Tor itself. This 10
not TIRE ID . singie particular. Last
year The water Dlast did not ~ Tie
Funnias sxpsasss aad iatsrsst on the
hoads. but showed . deficit of el..
s7e.se-aad not . siagls boad vas
paid out Of The recslpts Of tAs water
plaat. he figures herewith given
were secured from City Treasurer
Fisher Isse Wednesday. ssd thsy viii
Deebably surprise even so0s nsabsfs
q ths city eeuseil. roe he fiscal
ysas sadias April !. 1914. he ~
esiDts q ~ watss plsat we're elS..
S6o.Ss. ~ sxDsa1itusss we're -
Sollews:
0alssy warrants. ......o 3.S30.oo
vusl vasrasss. ........ S.eSS.3s
1osssese - fuel wssfsass. 1850
Waeee Dloat laei1eota1
VogyoneD ............ 6,oS9.l0
1o4oeoa - Waeee Dlaat
loe11oooal warrants. 80. 9Sl.Si
Inoseoa - Wo1oe boolo.. e.ooe.oo
Tssai sspsallsssss sss
yeos eo1la0 AosN !.