Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-04-04

, que TO have put in its own plant, ant
It no doubt. as other cities have done
offered inducements for the water
company to come in and invest here
Is II just, therefore, that when a com
pany has served q city in its need at
a loss at first in the expectation that
by and 10y it would be able to make
a profit on its investment (and who is
In business for fun or philanthropy
mcrely-are you, or you?) that when
it does see land ahead, the citizens
who have been served from The hour
of their extremity should object TO a
corporations making profit or do
ing wei cat rates granted by the peo-
Pile in their franchise To ito ana pro-
cedd to abuse and Witty it2 Remem-
Der, a city is judged by the way it
treats industries IL it gets a reputa-
ton for not treating its investors
squarey, but outrageously ana UNJUST
~. aud perhaps confscating its in
vestors' property, how can it hope to
attract others here? They'll look at
the treatment you have accorded
those who invested their capital here
whom you abused and perhaps caus-
ed TO fail, and they'll go elsewhere to
make their investments. where from
its past dealings they know they can
rely upon square treatment from
a city.
The facts regarding FL paso's un-
profitable experience with it's munic-
ipal water plant are especially au-
thentic Mr Joshua Reynolds can
testify to that i'll paso's conditions
are similar TO our own therefore II
fair criterion for us. lei Paso pays
20 cents per 1000 gallons. with rs, 600
inhabitants TO supply, and therefore
provide four times The sales of Albu-
querquc; and at that The taxpayers
foot q bill for the municipal plants
deficit each year, and it has had
several bond issues. Is II not more
advantageous, therefore, for the in
hahitants of city of our size (about
one-fourth that of FL paso) TO pay
privately owned plant .the same rate
go cents to average consumers, 15c
TO large consumers, have 40 deficit
for property owners to make up each
year (as El Paso unquestionably has),
have no more taxes added on to
more investors away than
have already been frightened away
because of high taxes and induce peo-
pie now living in Albuquerque to seri-
ousiy consider changing their resi-
dences to one of the new and attrac-
tika ttaGf
limits. as personally know some are
contemplating doing because of the
already too great tax rate and the fear
of the absolute certainty of additional
taxes being levied on property in the
city's limits In case the city votes the
questionable bond issue? There are
too few taxpayers here 70 carry more
Of load than they already do, and
II is about the breaking point. I'll
isn't case of straw breaking the
camols back, but of the elephane /
breaking the mans back. as portray
ed In that forceful relation OF the
of the man who started out
by wishing for an elephant, and who
at the finish cried to be relieved Of /
his costly elephant Let the water
company worry--we to take advant-
age of 20 cent rate, have no care 10
speak of--no deficit to ever make I'D.
or issue more bonds as the city grows
no fear of a mess through the
plants being controlled BY politicians
or commissions governed by them.
and hi-yearly changing city councils.
Take It from me, all you who clamor
Tor free water-you' never going