The Republican journal., 1919-02-06
WATER SITUATION.

The Belfast City Council advises a
water takers to promptly offer to pay the
advance six months water bills at II
rate of last year, accepting receipt f,
the money paid. If the Water Compar
declines to accept your payments, lea,
your bills unpaid until such time as the
are ready to settle.
The water situation is as follows:
The City Council has obtained
temporary Court order restraining
The Water Company from shutting
Oft water from any invidual taker.
provided the taker is willing to paw
on the 1918 basis.
A hearing will be held at Augusta
on this order Feb. 18th, when it is ex-
pected from the justice of the case
the order will be made permanent,
pending the final definition of the
contract between the city and the
company regarding individual takers.
The City Council has asked the Court
for full definition of this part of the
contract, believing that this part is
valid and will be held so by the Court
The part of the contract relating to
taking of water for city uses, as every
one knows, has already been fully
confirmed by the Court.
The Belfast Water Company owns
what is known as the Bunker Farm"
adjacent to the upper water privilege,
which farm is entirely unnecessary
to the operation of its privileges and
plant, and the taxes on which should
be PAID same as on any other city
property. The Water Company re-
fuses to do this, claiming it to be
part OF their water system, and OBJ
tanned an order restraining the CITY
selling said farm for taxes as had been
advertised
Hearing on this injunction will also
be held at the same time as on the
Injunction by the city against the
Water Company, Feb. 18th.
The Belfast Water Company by its
own statement, shows that it made
net profit in the fiscal year of 1917 of
$4,000 above all expenses, and in 1918
about 81, 100 or $1,000; both of these
under wartime prices of labor and
materials, which will be largely re-
duced In the Immediate future
The advance in rates asked for is
both unnecessary and unwarranted
and it is hoped and expected that the
city will be able to defend the actual
full justice of its position, and that at
least the advance in rates may be
eliminated. The Water Company
appears to be attempting to fasten on
the city permanent wartime reve-
nue. to carry forward with peace
time expenses. 1t is only fair that
this company should share some of
the burdens of war in surrender of
part of its surplus profits, same as
the people have and are doing
There is another solution of the
situation which would seem more
satisfactory from all points of view,
and that a purchase Of the Water
Company by the city. To this end an
Act has been introduced in the Legis-
lature creating Belfast Water Dis
trlct and authorizing it to purchase
the Water Company with all it's prop
erty, rights, privileges, etc This
Water District would be operated by
three trustees, elected by the City
Council, whose term of office would
be three years. The chairman of the
three trustees would be the chief
executive officer at salary of $500
per year; the other two trustees
would receive $50 each.
The Water District would be au-
thorlZed to issue notes or bonds for
the purchase price of the plant to-
getheI with such other moneys as
might be necessary from time to time
for its operation and it's extensions
The rates to be charged would be at the
discretion of the three trustees and
should be sufficient to care for run
ming expenses, maintenance and a
sinking fund of not less than 1 per
cent nor more than per cent of the
bonded Indebtedness.
The foregoing are the vital points
OF the proposed act and the fuli text
is in the hands Of the Mayor and may
be seen by anyone who wishes to take
the trouble to look it over. This act
must be voted on by the people before
operative. The reason for obtaining
the act at the present time is to be
provided with means through which
to handle the purchase of the Water
Company, should that be consum-
mated later on basis satisfactory to
the citizens of Belfast. If no pur-
chase be made, the act will remain
unused
From analysis of the operating ex-
penses of the Water Company for
1917, it is expected that at least be-
tween S., 900 and 81, 600 per year could
be at once eliminated from these ex-
penses by the city operation. 1t may
be of interest to the citizens to know
that the revenue of the company for
the year of 1917 was $22, 341 42, and
total operating expenses, including
bonded interest, S19,34114.
1t is believed that if the policy of
the company were reversed, and
rates reduced instead oe increased,
with proper solicitation enough more
service could be sold to increase the
actual revenue received, and give the
people more service and better salts
faction all the while.
In order to obtain best results, it is
advisable that the people follow strict
ly the advice of the City Council,
who are acting for the interest of all.
c. W. WESCOTT, Mayor,