Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-10-05
WACO WATER BOARD
HAS FIVE MEMBERS
These Men Serve thc Guy without
Pay and Have Built Fine and
Economical System.

Waco. Texas. has a board OF five
water commissioners VINO manage
all affairs connected with the water
department. The following portions
Of a letter telling In detail about
that management VIII be Of inter
est to all Tulsa people Al this time:
The water department Of the city
OF Waco Is managed and operated
under the direction and control Of a
board Of five water miSsiOners,
one from each of the five wards OF
tho city, but elected by the entire
vote Of the city They serve with
out pay as provided by the ordinance
creating the board,
The water department ofgShe city
has been under the ContruHDof the
board of wafer commissioners since
the purchase of tho plant by the
city. which occurred in 1894 There
was considerable discussion AT the
time as to the proprietyuO OF the city
undertaking to purchase and operate
the water plant, and as a ComprOm-
ise measure the water board was
provided for by an amendment to
the charter.
, The result of the measure seems
TO have been entirely satisfactory
with the people OF the city. | have
been a member OF the board since
Il came into existence and the other
members have held offices for "a
number of years. There are never
any opposition candidates as the
water plant has been successfully
and economically managed to the
satisfaction Of tho citizens, and as
there are no emOluments tho office
is not sought after.
The original plant cost the city
100000. The charter provision re-
uuircd the rates to he fixed at a
sufficient sum to pay for operating
expenses. extensions and betterments
and sinking fund and interest on
the bonds issued for the purchase
OF the plant. and this provision OF
the charter has been successfully
carried out.
About five years ago IT became
evident that the main source OF our
water supply was insufficient, ana
insecure. being located in the valley
on the east side OF the river and
subject to overflow. Additional
bonds. amounting to 100000 were
issued to build a filter plant and
now pump station and extend tho
mains, etc. as the city had out
grown the original plant. With this
money the improvements were con-
structed and we now have an ample
and satisfactory supply OF wafer at
reasonable rates.
The population of Waco AZ the
present time Is about 10000; In ad-
dition to that we have here camp
Macarthur and Rich Field, the num-
ber OF troops varying from fifteen 10
forty thousand. and both are entire
ly supplied with water from the
Waco city waterworks. we are
now pumping from four to i've mil
lion gallons OF water per day. ana
in addition to this we have an ar
teslan supply OF about two million
gallons per day.
do not know or any other city
in Texas which has water depart
ment managed on the same plan. IL
YOU would like It | would be glad
to send you a copy Of our city char.
ter relating to the management OF
the water department.
neglected to say that when the
new issueI OF bonds was Issued Tor
100000 about five years ago TOT
the construction of the filter plant
etc. the charter was so altered as
TO provide that the water depart
ment should pay the interest, per
cent, and the sinking fund, 10
per cent. should be paid by the CITY.
Yours truly,
w. NJ. SLEEPER.