The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-10-15
PEOPLE OF BLACKFOOT
SHOULD REJOICE


The people of Blackfoot have rea-
son to rejoice over the action Of the
city council and the water company
getting together on the transfer of
property to the city, where it right
fully belongs to enjoy it's greatest
measure of development and to per-
form its greatest service.
The citizens of Blackfoot made a
mistake when they rejected the offer
OF the water company two years ago
when they could have bought the
plant for $4,000. During that time
the water company has expended a
few thousand dollars for improve
ments, has made few thousand dol
lars of profit ana the development
of the water service of the town has
been retarded because the water
company did not know what it
would be able to do and If the city
had purchased it then the city would
have known what it was willing to
do. IS Ms&
However, this error of two years
ago has not cost the city or the water
company much sacrifice. 1t would
have entailed a needless and serious
sacrifice If they had not got together
at this time. So much of the de-
velopment of the town depends upon
the water system first that it is, prac-
tically speaking, a strategic point to
take over the water system now.
We consider that the city made
good purchase when they bought the
water works We consider that the
water company made very good
sale when they sold the water works.
According to the estimate made by
the engineer for the utilities COM
mission the water works is worth
about $74,5O0. The council is pay
ing $4,000 for it. There has been
a lot of talk to the effect that the
old water system was not worth
much. All of that has been set at
naught by the engineers report say
ing it was worth $74,500. 1t was as
little as the town of Blackfoot could
do to pay the water company few
thousand dollars more than the sys-
tenn was actually worth. They were
entitled to something for their bust
ness already developed and going.
The water company did not con-
slider that they were paid enough on
this sore, but thew felt that thev had
to accept the offer of the council be-
cause of their declaration and inten-
tom. to put in competitive plant
which of course would prevent the
water company from making any |
further profit when the business was
divided. When the council acted |
on that determination and used that |
decision and statement as a. club to
force the water company to accent
their offer the water company prob
ably felt that the club was too heavy
and was being used upon them too
coldly. They probably felt that they
should have received a somewhat
better price, but that is past history.
Some of the council felt that they
were paying too much when they
paid $4,000. But whatever people
think nobody has any right to make
the statement again that the council
bought something that was not
worth the money or very nearly what
they paid for it. For the informa-
ton of people who are not convinced
of that matter we refer them to the
engineers statement showing the
heavy deduction which they made to
allow for materials that might not
possess any value to the city. The
water company therefore stood the
loss Of the worthless equipment
which the city is taking over and is
receiving payment only for the
eqri- that has value and a few
thousand dollars for their business
going and profitable.
A Good Thing for
The Town
The purchase of the water works
Ia probably the best thing that has
ever happened to the town. Both
sides to the transaction have made
friends for themselves and the town.
Both sides to the transaction have
conferred substantial benefits upon
The town. The whole transaction
contributes to the advancement ana
Of the town. The con-
struction of sewers and paving need
no longer be held up by the uncer-
tainty as to what would be done with
the waterworks and by the delay in
laying the water mains where sewers
and paving might afterwards con-
flict. The management Of all those
three things is now in the hands of I
The people and they can go ahead ,
with the development of all three Of
hem as they may desire. ,F, II
Many towns and cities get into F,
strife and litigation over the settle
nent of the water question. Many (
owns put in competitive plants and
waste the peoples money and the