Putnam patriot., 1920-06-04
GRANTS WATER DEPARTMENT
 PERMISSION TO INCREASE RATES
Commissioners Say Advance Is Necessary to Meet Payments
 On Bonded Indebtedness
Common Council Again Tackles Gar bage Problem and Matter of
 Hook and Ladder Truck

using water from the city's public wa ter service yill find their bills inereas- ed one-quarfer Permission has been given the board of water commission CTS to raise the present rates twenty five per cent.
 The commissioners, G. Allen Flaw kins, c. Harold Gilpatric, and Herbert J. Smith, appeared before the'regular meeting of the common council, Tues day evening, and presented a petition requesting the right to advance the service rates. The commissioners gave as the reason the increase in cost of material and labor, and the fact that the first payment on the bonded debt of three hundred thousand dol lars, an installment of ten thousand dollars, will come due next Septem- Der, with like amount each year un- til the full amount is paid.
 The commissioners submitted re- port which showed that the net cash earnings had averaged but $1 400 a year. This does not mean that the department has not earned more, but s42,Y11 has been spent in extensions and improvements. The severe win- ter of 1918 was also big expense to the department. The expense, like in all other departments and business undertakings, has increased material iy, due to the advanced wages and ad- vanced cost of material. It was thought that the increase i'll rates was not at all out of proportion to the ad- vance in prices along other lines.
 It was stated that the average rate paid at the present time is less than s21 year. The rate to the N. Y., N. H. & H. railroad has already been in creased B 1-3 per cent, but the com pany will be included in the present 25 per cent advance
 Alderman Dean brought up the matter of installing meters. Com missioner Gilpatric said that in his opinion this was not feasible at this time. He said it would cost approxi- mately $30,00o to install meters and he thought that the present debt should be reduced before any step was taken that would reduce the revenue. He thought the city is too prone to borrow money without making pro-f visiUn to repay it. :.
 The vote was by roll call and all present, Aldermen Johnson, Dean, Dugas, Padgett and Fox, voted in fa- ver of the increase.
 Twelve Arrests In May
 The report of the captain of police showed twelve arrests for the month of Nay, and one man was sent to lail. Relate for electric lights out amount ed to 3s.50. Store doors found open and secured, seven. Property valued at s20O was reported stolen.
 4 permit was granted Mrs. May Patterson to erect two tenement house on May street.
 Ehe petition of G. Nikoloff for an electric light at the top. of Hospital hill was referred to the light commit tee.
 The Nightingale Morse Mills Com pany was granted permission to run an electric transmission line under the Providence street bridge. The company is desirous of transmitting power from the south side of the street to the mill on the north side of the street.
 The clerk was directed to notify abutters whose sidewalks are out of repair to put them in condition.
 Garbage Collection
 Alderman Dean reported on the natter of garbage collection. He said that he had found man whom he thought would be willing to con tract with the city for the collection of garbage if the matter could be sat isfactorily arranged, but as the city had had no experience in the matter and nothing to work on, he did not know just what could be done. The matter will be further considered and reported.
 New Fire Truck
 The matter of new motor driven Hook & Ladder truck was again brought up and discussed. 1t was again stated that under existing con- ditions that there is no way of getting the present truck to fire. It was suggested that in order to free the city officials from responsibility for possible loss of life, due to ladders be- ing unprovided, that the committee get the prices on a piece of apparatus and submit them with recommenda- tions to the council and that special city meeting be called to give the vot- CTS a chance to express their views. If the appropriation is voted down the responsibility will then rest with the voters and the city officials will have their shoulders cleared.
 It was voted to oil certain streets and parts of streets. The regular monthly bills were approved and or dered paid.