The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-11-12
SHALL THE CITY PURCHASE
THE WATERWORKS?

SHALL THE CITY PURCHASE
THE WATERWORKS?
In determining the question
whether or not the city shall buy
the water works, the following mat
tiers enter into the problem.
Under the present system, people
can buy water or supply it themselves
from wells. Those who use the
water from the system pay for what
they use land those living within the
city limits who do not use it, do not
pay.
If the city buys the system, all
taxpayers will help pay for it, and
all will help improve, enlarge and
maintain it. Those who live within
the city limits, but out of reach of
the mains will still have to pay their
share of the purchase price and pro-
vide their own water as they do now,
or secure extensions of the system to
bring it near their property, and
then make their own extensions to
the private taps. 1t will bring up the
same problems that have been con-
nected with the sewer system so far
as extensions are concerned, ex-
cepting that those who are once con-
nected with the sewer system do not
pay monthly fee for the service.
Everybody within the city limits pays
for maintaining the sewer, but only
those who are fortunate enough to
be connected with the system re-
ceive the service. In the case of the
water system being bought by the
city, the individual who is fortunate
enough to be on the system and have
his connections made, helps pay for
the purchase of the system, and
merely has the privilege of buying
water and paying I or it monthly.
The price he pays to the city may not
be as much as he pays the private
owner, but still he will pay. Every
taxpayer will find his taxes higher
on account of the water system, but
those who buy water may find their
water bills lowered. The man who
does not buy water will merely pay
more taxes. The man who is just
beyond the reach of the system will
have the task of getting the line ex-
tended so he can connect with it.
When it comes to deciding about
extensions, the question of size of
pipe comes into the problem. Take
Bridge street for example. A six
inch main reaches a few blocks and
then it drops to four-inch; then to
two-inch. People wishing extensions
to the western end of town will be-
siege the council to extend the line
If the two-inch pipe were laid and
all the houses along were connected,
nobody could fill a bucket within a
reasonable length of time because of
the lack of pressure. If fifty houses
were opening their taps at once those
farthest out toward the end would
get the least. If they wanted it for
fighting fire. it would be of slight
benefit. Therefore it might be ad-
visable to dig up the two-inch pipe
and connect with four-inch, or it
might be better to take up all the
four-inch pipe and lay six-inch. If
so permanent and expensive a job
as that were done 1t might be better
to take up the six-inch pipe and lay
one large enough for futures. That
might CAL for rebuilding the out
let of the tank or even the tan It.
self, so 1t Is difficult to decide just
where to draw the line between
spending money for temporary and
unsatisfactory service, and spending
more money that means a greater
degree of service for a while and
then a greater sacrifice when it has
to be discarded.
What has been said of Bridge
street might be said of various other
streets, perhaps all of them There
fore the problem resolves itself into
question of how much money to
throw away and on what particular
parts of the system to sacrifice it.
The old system, while not very good,
might be worth 100000 in one
fire, Of we might sacrifice tina. much
by not having better system to fight
one fire.
1t may be said that we should buy
the old system and not spend cent
improving it, but Immediately start
in drilling new and large wells on
the west side of the tracks and pro-
coed to lay system large enough
for future needs land extend it first
in those parts of town that have no
service now or that have inadequate
service, and keep extending it until
1t affords service for the whole city,
at which time the old worn-out and
rusted-out system would be aban-
doned.
Apropose of that it will be asked |
why the city should buy the old sys-
tenn at all. 1t could refuse to buy |
1t, and still go on and build the new
system. While the old system is q |
private enterprise, the owners have
reason to hesitate about improving
it, not knowing what the city will do
as to patronizing them or declining