La Junta tribune., 1915-03-27
WATER PLANT NOT PAYING.
CONTINUED from First pase)

iNH NNOukIuuG0 fHuk IaHcy
that year or any other year. and the
plant was operated II loss of ST.
370.OO-over 500 per month.
During the past few years City
Treasurer Fisher has paid $1,000 Of
the water plant bonded indebtedness.
This included the $1,000 issue Of
bonds. made In October. 1893. to build
the reservoir south OF town. and dur
ing the past year he has paid $4,000
OF the $4,000 issue Of bonds. All
OF this $1,000. however, was paid out
Of the general fund-money that Ii
raised by taxation. and not out OF the
receipts Of the water plant as most
people believe. and as they would
have to be II the water plant IL 60
ing TO pay for itself.
La Junta has not made success
of . municipality owned water plant.
II the bonds are ever paid they will
have to be paid by general taxation.
and the same thing will happen with
= municipality owned electric Hight
slant. The plant might pay the run
ming expenses for a few years. and
give 4 reduced rate for service. but
eventually the bonds-&75.O0O sure.
and maybe 325.o00 more out OF the
electric light plant incidental fund"
before we get through.
II Is safe to wager that the "elec-
trio light plant incidental fund" will
be overdrawn several thousand dol
lars before a single killowatt OF juice
is turned loose on our proposed mu-
nicipally owned pole line. This has
happened with :he water plant Incl
dental fund" every time we made a
bond issue TO enlarge or improve the
water plant. II happened In 1906
when We made the $4,000 issue TO
rehabiliate the water plant, and II
happened again in 1912 when an is
new plant across the river After
the money derived from the sale of
the bonds had been used up. II was
found that there were number of
things that had been overlooked In
the original estimate, so II was nee
essary to resort 10 the convenient
method OF issuing excess interest
bearing warrants on the water
plant Incidental fund to make up
the deficiency. II you will look over
the books OF the city treasurer. you
will find the record OF numerous
large warrants issued and registered
ms the funds OF both the $4,000 and
S3o.000 issue OF bonds became er-
hausted. They are all big ones
none less than 500. and from that
amount up TO 81. 500 and $1,000 In
1912. at the wind up and finish OF the
$4,000 bond issue. excess warrants
had been issued on the water plant
incidental fund to the amount OF
over $4,000. II cost the city over
$4,000 to build the plant across
the river instead OF $4,000 as was
originally contemplated. The same
thing viii happen In the event OF n
$4,000 bond issue bein. approved
by the people to build an electric
lixht plant II will be necessary to
utilize the electric light plant In
cidentai fund" and draw upon II for
$4,000 more In order 10 secure
funds TO complete the plant.
The original estimate OF IN. cost
Of erecting a municipal light plant
In La Junta Was s77 goo. and on the
first reading OF the ordinance IL Was
proposed 10 issue bonds to the
amount of sso.o0o In order to cover
contingencies and -,is.nci.s that
might arise. One OF the electric
Hight experts on IN. city council.
however. who's. principal name IL
Tommy. vas very much opposed to
maxim. the amount over $4,000. In
defer.nc. To the dear people. who
might be seriously alarmed by such
IN august amount as sso.ooo In one
huge pile. 70 the amount OF sso. 900
vas reduced 10 $4,000 in order 90
appease the gentleman from the
bloody first. city Engineer Lewis was
very much opposed TO reducing the
amount and strongly advised aTains,
u. suggesting that II ther. vas
surplus the excess amount could be
utilized In taking up excess warrants
IN Oh. water plant Incidental fund"
"a condition In our municipal H.
nanccs that IL present with us always.
and can be relied upon to be avail.
able In an emergency at any time.