The Washington times., 1915-01-29
KTzSRYSD.C.PAYS
MORE THAN SHARE
FOR WATER WORKS
Federal Government Receives
Interest and Appropriations
Both, In Service.

The District Of Columbia has more
than paid its share for the present
waterworks system of Washington, and
the Federal Government has received
ample return on every cent it has in
vested in the Washington aqueduct. the
filtration plant. and other features Of
the system, according to Major Kutz.
Engineer Commissioner OF the District,
who has made careful study of the
problem.
Major Kutz has determined that the
Government not only receives its share
Of annual appropriations in water con-
sumed. but enough above this amount
to pay the interest on its investment
On the other hand, he Is prepared to
show that the District has taken no
such return from the system. and that
the interest on it's Investment has gone
improvement and extension Of the
system.
Wants No Change.
Major Kutz was one Of the guests Of
honor and principal speakers at the Sec
Citizens Association in the Hotel pow
hatan last night.
Major Kutz is opposed to changing
the present method Of payment for the
extension Of water mains. as was pro-
posed in a Senate amendment to the
District bill which failed to carry. This
amendment provided that the cost of
mains should be assessed upon abutting
property until SUCH time as these mains
n X cent a wear
upon their cost.
1.-The present system" Major Kutz
said. rs partly under the Jurisdiction OF
the United states and partly under the
intake, the aqueduct. the sedimentatton
basins. and the publication and filtra::
ton plant are under the direct control
Of the chief Of engineers, while the dis
Commissioners. In this discussion 1t is
proposed to ignore that division and
treat the system as whole. The esti-
mated present value of the system Is
OF which was appropriated from the
Treasury Of the United States. 80. 200. .00t
from the general taxation fund Of the
District, and approximately $2,0OO,Oo0 wat
derived from the special frontage tax
which Is levied wherever new mains are
laid. The difference between the tota
estimated value and the total of the ap.
propriations and assessments. aggregat'
ing about $8.0O000O. represents the saw
ings or profits Of the system since it'
inception.
Gets Full Value.
'Sro determine the relative interest Of
the United States and the District o.
Columbia in the present system. It II
necessary to apportion these savings be
tween the two agencies It Is estimated
that the Federal Government uses 49,.
10000 gallons a day. At the present
meter rate this amounts to $4,000 an
nually. The United States contribute.
each year for the operation and main
plant $63. 1900. If to this we add interes
on It's original investment, at per cent
to total becomes $3l1.60, or practically
the value of the water which 1t receives
about 2,5OoOOo gallons per day. which
at current meter rates. amounts Il
%. .oo0 This is $4,000 less than the Dis
trict contributes annually toward TIN
maintenance and operation OF the aque
duct and filtration plant"
Major Kutz was introduced by Presi
dent George W. Evans Of the associa
tion, who declared that the residents o
manded fair treatment. He reviewed tn
progress of the District. particular.
rince the passage Of the organic act. ant
told of the reduction Of the Distric
oeOI IIOHt S-spVp,VO Ill 1910 W ~osvoV'VoS
no prophesied that next year would Sc
the slate wiped clean. Mr.. Evans pledg
ed tho association to close cooperation
with Congress and the Commissioners
declared for the half-and-half plan, an
made protest against any form Of clas
legislation or the making Of q legtsln
tive experiment ground OF the District
Letters Of Regret eRad.
Letters Of regret were read from
Senators Pomerene. Ollie James. Mar
tine, ]. Walter Smith, and Lawrence Y
Sherman, Congressman Page and J
Hampton Moore, Commissioners New
man and Brownlow. and Henry B. F
Macfarland.
Former Justice Hagner. Of the Distric
Supreme Court, Capt James F. oyster
Edward T. Colladay, citizens Associa
tions: DR.. NJ. F.. Finley. Judge Henr
Randall Webb, and william H. Dennis
members of the association. also spoke