South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-25

Municipal ownership Of public
utilities IS not always "a failure. as
the opponents Of the municipal own
ership plan asserts il isl. This IS
strongly pointed out by former
Mayor Fred w. Keller in his last
report Of his incumbency in office.
SIR. Keller cites the water works
department Of South Bend under the
Keller administration as a glowing
example OF the success Of the mu-
nicipally owned public utility, espe-
cially in the case of this particular
utility III the saving of at least
$4,000 a year 20 the water con-
sumers OF the city and like amount
10 the city government in the pay
ment OF water rates for municipal
use. such as fire fighting. does not
prove the success of "a municipality
owned public utility, then the for
mer mayor and other supporters II
the plan are at a loss for an argu-
ment in its favor. Mr.. Keller i'm his
report shows that these amounts
have been saved the water consul
pal city Dy the city owning its own
water works.
The rates paid by other cities for
water, cities in which the water is
supplied by privately owned con-
Germs, are cOntrasted with the cost
OF water in this city. much to the
credit of South Bend and the adj
ministration under which the mu-
nicipally owned plan was put into
eject.
More Than Self-SuppOrting.
The report shows that the water
works under the plan upon which
IL IS now operated is much more
than self-supporting. thereby ena-
bling the citizens and municipal city
TO obtain a much lower rate than
they would be able 10 obtain under
the privately owned system
Mayor Keller's report goes over
the work accomplished by the for
mer city administration during the
last year of its tenure i'm office. In
addition TO placing the water works
department on self-suppOrting
basis by the adoption of the munich
pal ownership plan, the report shows
that the Indebtedness of the city
during the year has been reduced
Si37, 1883. while the assets of the
city have increased S4221S2.53
IL is pointed out i'm the report that
while iE practically every growing
city in the country, the cost of mu-
nicipal operating expenses increases,
the result has been exactly the Oppo-
site in south Bend during the last
year OF the Keller administration.
The expense of operating the city
government was materially decreas-
ed.
Acquire Much Park Area.
The report also points out the
acquiring by the city Of much park
area during the past four years, and
that the park property was pur-
chased by the city at a very rea-
sOnable price.
IN regard TO the acquisition OF
park properties, the report says:
"The purchase of Rum Village is
a benefit and is appreciated by the
present generation, however, il will
be appreciated more by future gem
erauons.
"By using ordinary business meth |
DDS, we were able to secure this
beautifully wooded tract for $4,000
less than the price asked about one
year before and at a price generally
agreed upon as being reasonable.
If the purchase of this tract had
Teen delayed many years. il would
likely have been divided and sold
into smaller tracts and il would then
have been impossible 70 secure Il
except for a fabulous sum"
The report also shows how the
city acquired space for an addition
20 the city hall building, and secured
Il at a reasonable figure.
A resume OF the action of the city
council in creating "a city planning
commission at the request of the adj
rninistration is contained in the
MAYORS report In regard to recre-
alton the report says:
Benefits OF Fairgrounds.
"The annual report OF the recrea-
ton committee i'm describing the
benefits Of the playground work the
past year states. The Fairgrounds
OF south Bend are helping to make
uood citizens of the children in the