The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-05-29
citx hIanaaer,, Renort.

C4Iy VI nays,
Gentlemen:
/ In pursuance of your verbal re-
quest, 1 beg to submit herewith my
analysis of the conditions as found in
the City of Hays and recommends
lions to be followed:
Analysis of Conditions as Found.
City as Whole.
Not unlike most any other city of
the same size and class.
Financial.
found that in 1913 the City of
Hays issued funding bonds to the
amount of $23,O6584 to take care of
overdraughts up to that time and I
now find overdraught with interest to
the extent of $24,3OO.OO, the same
having accumulated in the past six
years, or an expenditure of approx
mately $4,000 per year in excess of
receipts.
No Liability Insurance to Protect
City Against Damages.
There is thorough lack of bond
and interest records, no fund to take
care of sewer maintenance, and no
charge for water used in flush tanks
for sewers.
Office.
I found competent City Clerk
trying to carry on modern account
ing system without the necessary rec
ords for the foundation of such a
system. There was complete lack
of records of time, material or costs
and lack of system in paying bills.
December and February invoices paid
in May and material included in in
voice, but was not shown as outstand-
ing accounts. The City Clerk has no
payrolls on file and no distribution
of time. The City has paid $287,12
in war tax that should not have been
paid as municipality is exempt from
war tax. Past due light and water
bills allowed to run. A discrimination
in light rates. Water and light rec
ords incomplete, due not to the cIer-
zeal force in Office but lack of system
in the field.
Find complete lack of system in
the control of forces, as there is no
follow up system whatever to keep
up with work or unpaid accounts.
Eighty per cent of all the work in
the Office is crowded into the last
ten days of the month
Found an inventory and plant val
uation full of inflated values and in
some cases shown on iventory at
unit cost price greater than the re-
tail price.
Light and Water Plant.
General condition bad l find the
city has six wells in different parts of
the city and material lying around
on the ground at the various well
houses is disgraceful. At the two
wells on Block II, Lebold Addition,
there is a pump purchased over two
years ago, and never used ION &C
count of not being the proper size,)
laying on the ground, that today is
only fit for scrap iron; new galvan-
lied pipe bent and twisted; one well
out of commission at present time
and similar conditions at the other
well houses.
At the old light plant there is a
generator and meter, switch board
and instruments unprotected and
dirty, material lying all around the
plant-inside and out.
In the courtyard is a storage tank
and tower erected at cost of $500;
that has been out of service for about
year and half. Figuring interest
and depreciation, this is costing the
city $4,000 per year,
At the power plant where cinders
are being made each day, I find you
are unable to get to the plant in
rainy weather without getting into
mud over your shoetops; scrap mater
ial and equipment laying around on
the ground; fly wheel in small Skin
ner engine loose; header from broiler
to steam line in dangerous condition
being put in of old pipe and early eat
en- through;) steam line leaking at all
f1ange joints; all screws thread joints
leaking steam on account of only be-
ing taken up three of four threads;
blow-off valves put on backward,
pressure being with valve instead of
against it; fire walls in boiler cracked
and in dangerous condition, boilers
badly scaled; tubs in good condition
Water Service.
Hydrants set so low that turing
hydrant around in complete curl is
impossible service line in slack con-
dition; water mains laid without def
mite plans; eighty dead water meters;
flush tanks in sewer not working pro-
perly.
Street and Storm Sewers.
Street improvements and culverts
put in without regard to size of OPP
ening required. Culverts under side
walks and street crossings half filed
with mud, not proper attention paid
to drainage. No systematic plan for
grading and sweeping the streets.
Streets paved over two-inch galvan-
lied pipe, that means eventually viii