The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1919-01-02
WATER RATES.


For the information of the people the
City Council submits herewith a supple
mentary letter under date of Dec. 31st to
the Water Company:
Dec. 81, 1918
MIR. E. B. Wheeler, Treas,
BELFAST WATER COMPANY,
IA Beacon ST.,
Boston, Mass.
My dear Mr. Wheeler:
Members of the City Council take no
tice of the proposed advance in water
rates as of Feb. 1, 1919. which they view
with serious concern: first, because it
further widens the unpleasant relations
which have of late existed between the
Company and the inha bitants of Belfast;
second, because in all probability the new
rates, if allowed to exist, would cause
much inconvenience thru reduced and re-
stricted service.
The good will of the customers of any
business enterprise is undeniably its most
valuable asset. When your Company or
any other Company sacrifices this, it is
sacrificing one of it's most potent profit
producers. Your Company appears to be
working contrary to the esta blished prin-
ciples of economic law. When you get
the price of any commodity or service
beyond which the people can afford, it
means absolute curtailment of use of the
commodity or service.
Your new rates are not only unjust and
illegal but beyond the means of our peo-
pie. If established, they would likely
cause such opening of wells and cisterns
and further curtailment of existing SER
vice as would decrease your revenue be-
low that already received. You cannot
drive the people of Belfast. They are
not of that makeup. They know when
thing is fair and right and when unfair
and unjust.
So to speak, you are trying to wag the
dog by the tail instead of endeavoring thru
his stomach to have him follow you and
be of ever-increasing service. Instead of
increasing your rates beyond reason, you
should endeavor to make them so attrac-
tive that they would expand the use of
your service and bring you more money
on the whole thereby. Your secondary
service should be reduced instead of in
creased and the City canvassed at least
twice yearly, to explain to the people the
value of greater service and the small
cost of same.
People will buy when thing is cheap
or within their means and buy enough of
it because reasonable, paying more in
total than for lesser service at an ex-
orbitant rate. This is principle incon-
trovertible. A smaller profit on large
volume is far safer and far more remun-
erative than large profit on a small
output.
The people of Belfast would prefer tc
live in peace with your Company and
use it's service freely. 1t is most sincere
ly hoped by the City Council that you
will give consideration to the above and
withdraw the proposed advance in rates
Should you persist, however, the City
Council will take such action as seems tc
them best suited to safeguard our inter
ests.
Furthermore, the people are thorough
ly tired of this continual misunderstand-
ing and wrangling. They would be glac
to see the controlling interest of the Bel
| fast Water Company owned by Belfast
citizens. That we may intelllgently con-
slider this phase of the matter, will yor
; kindly submit at once full tinancia
statement of your Company as of Jan
| /, 1919; also, will you advise the full
amount of available income for the year
1918, and the operating expenses in de-
| tail for the same time2
We should still further be glad to re-
ceive proposition from your Company
/ for the turnover to Belfast people of the
/ whole or controlling interest in the Com
/ pany.
! Very truly yours,
C. w. WESCOTT,
Mayor for City Council
I The City Council advises the payment
of no water bills for 1919 before Feb. 1st
| They are working on the legal phase O
the matter and will take such action az
seems best before that date. Should any
one wish to pay before Feb. LIST we sug.
gest and advise paying the same amour
which has been paid heretofore towart
/ the service for the coming six months
not requiring receipt in full. but permit
ting the Company temporarily to charge
the remainder if they SO see fit. Any
unfair action of the Water Company t.
any citizen, if reported at once to th'
Mayor, will be Immediately taken in hane
and the party protected.
In case the Water Company does no
consider our suggestion to them it is thu
purpose of the City Council to bring th
matter to final conclusion at the earlies
possible moment.
C. W. WESCOTT, Mayor,