The Ronan pioneer., 1917-06-01

AT the last meeting of the city
council Mayor Swee appointed COM
mittee of three to make Il trip to
Whitetish, Columbia Falls ~and Kali
ispell to gather information regard
ing the water works of these cities.
Aldermen Sterling, Lemire and War
ner were appointed on this committee
but owing to the inability of council
men Sterling and Warner to make
the trip, Aldermen burst and Alfen
were appointed to take their place.
This committee, together with Mayor
John p. Swce, left Roman last Sunday
morning at seven o'clock ON their
trip of inspection. The fyst stop was
made at Big Fork where they viewed
the Northern Idaho e Montana Power
company's plant which is now fur
nishing electric lights and power for
Big Fork, Kalispell, Columbia Falls
and Whitefish. This plant is at the
present time only using about one
thousand horse power in supplying
these towns with light and power but
the plant will develop more than ten
thousand horse power If necessary.
From Big Fork the committee went
to Kalispell and on Monday morning
left for Whitefish and viewed the
water works of that city and also
had an interview with the city en-
gineer. The Whitefish water works
is owned and operated by the city
from the city engineer and other
officials regarding the Whitefish
plant, the committee makes the fol-
lowing report:
In 1907 the town was bonded for
$4,000 for a water system. At that
time the population OF Whitefish was
less than one thousand. The amount
raised by the bonds was expended as
follows;
For fire fghting equipment. 81, 10000
Pumping station ........... 100000
Two gas engines, pump and other ma
chlncry 3,VOO.VU
Fifty thousand gallon water tank.
..... ..... ..... ....... 100000
The balance of the amount raised
by the bonds being used in laying
about two miles of eight inch wood
pipe and making some extensions.
The revenue derived from the oper-
alton of the plant for one year from
May 1903 to May 1909 is as follows:
Rentals ..... ....... .... S4 ,O75.OO
Permits to tap mains ...... 7l5Oo
Total revenue for the year. .Sl 10000
The cost of operating the system
for the same period including wages
of pumpcr salary of city treasurer,
amount paid to plumber, labor, costs
of extensions and interest on the
bond amounted to the sum OF ST.
397.37, leaving net balance i'm the
water works fund at the end of the
year of $392.G3.
About this time the town had
about one hundred and twenty five
taps and the rents for dwellings were
$15O per month, private baths rs,
toilets S so, making a rate of S2.75
for fully equipped house. The rate
for sprinkling of lawns was 1Ocents
per front foot. The rates to hotels,
business houses and other industries
varied somewhat and after the plant
had been operated for three years the
rates were reduced fifteen per cent
except sprinkling of lawns which
was reduced twenty five per cent.
The city engineer stated that the
revenue Of the water departmnt had
increasd every year since the plant
was constructed. The water of this
plant was pumped from Whitefish
lake. Originally the pumping was
done by two gas engines but later
change was made so that the pump
ing at the present time is done by
electric motors The city is also
furnishing water to the Great Nor
thern railway for which they receive
a monthly revenue of $500. No
charge is made to the city for hy-
drants. The lighting OF Whitefish Is
done by the Northern Idaho & Mon
tana Power company under twenty
year franchise with an option Of pur-
chase in ten years from time granted
and in talking to the officials, the
rates seemed to be fairly satisfactory
to the citizens.
From Whitefsh the committee went
to Columbia Falls. This town has a
population of about seven hundred
people and the water is furnished
by gravity system which is owned
by the James A. Talbot Co. This