Denver labor bulletin. [volume] (Denver, Colo.) 1915-19??, 1918-07-27
BUY WATER PLANT
AT LOWEST VALUE
COST WILL GROW IF OP-
TON IS DEFEATED.
Citizens Should Awake to Opportunity
for Municipal Ownership, and
Vote for Bond Issue ON
August Election

| After more than twenty years OF
almost continuous and very expensive
litigation, the citizens of Denver will
be called upon to vote on the water
question Tuesday, August s, next.
At that time two propositions will
be up for settlement.
First, a proposition authorizing
bond issue Of 1910, 900 water bonds,
bearing Az per cent interest in pay
ment in full for the present plant Of
the water company. Only taxpayers
can vote for or against the bond issue.
Second, plan of city operation Of
the water plant should the bond issue
carry. On this proposition all the
voters are eligible to vote yes or no.
Is an Option Agreement.
the water plant at the price named
for bonds bearing such low rate Of
interest at price fixed on 1914 prices
comes by reason of an option agree
ment entered into between the city
and the water company, which option
was approved by the people at reg
ular election two years ago.
This option has only a short time
to run, and must be exercised, il at
all, before the end of this year.
There are many reasons why. the
people should avail themselves of the
advantages which this option gives
them. Chief among these is the fact
that the water company agrees to
accept the water bonds of the city at
the exceedingly low interest rate of
AN per cent. This will prove of great
benefit to water consumers, as it will
materially tighten the fixed charges
against the plant all during the life
of the bonds.
Lowest Price Now for Plant
Besides, the advantage of buying
at price fixed on 1914 valuations
is of great value, as we all know that
1918 prices and values are from one
third to one-half more.
Should the city fail to purchase, it
is easy OF see how the company would
raise the value of the water plant up
to 1918 prices, go to the state utilities
board and ask for a reasonable profit
on such increased value and get it.
This would mean a heavy increase in
the present water rates.
Many other reasons might be cited.
The fact that the city, by this pur-
| chase, can now come thru clean and
| forever stop vexatious lawsuits, and
get rid of an undesirable tenant, is
one of the very strongest reasons why
the bonds should carry.
Plan of Management.
The plan of management proposed
| is one adopted after many confer
ences with patriotic citizens from all
parts of the city. 1t provides for five
commissioners, who shall have COM
plete supervision of the plant, hire
help, fix the rates, provide for extern
sions and improvements, and at all
times operate the plant in the interest
of the water consumers.
The plan of management recognizes
that the north side, the south side,
Montclair and the east side should
each have representation on the board
of water commissioners. This is the
proper principle of board manage
ment since it recognizes the several
factors which are vitality interested in
the proper conduct Of the water plant.
No Politics in 1t.
The men who are named as the
five commissioners are public spir-
tied citizens, who are known to be
honorable and careful business men.
The board is to be non-partisan and
non-political.
| Those of us who have been in the
water fight all these years feel that
we have now achieved all that is pos
sible to accomplish in the interest of
| the people, since the future will be
amply safeguarded. We feel that the
people should grasp the opportunity
to have municipal ownership Of the
water plant and settle this vexatious
problem for all time to come.
Let's buy the plant and have final
settlement of the whole business.
I OTTO F. THUM.