Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1920-03-02
TRUSTEES DON'T
WANT WATER PLANT
Prepared Resolution TO Submit PropO-
sal 10 Buy 10 Voters, But no One
Claimed the Orphan Child.
CAN'T VOTE FOR TWO YEARS
Everybody Thinks IL is a Fine Thing,
But Require Few Years TO
Gather Figures on Proposal.

Tho trustees Of the Village Of Dem
ing last night had terrible attack o.
"cold feet when the matter Of reso- /
luton 10 place the proposed issue of /
bonds 10 purchase the water plant on |
the ballot for the election next month |
was called up. Mayor Hamilton look
ed from one to the other OF the trus. |
tees, but there was no response. Final |
ly the mayor relinquished his seat to /
james Tracy and put the motion him !
sell, but deep silence followed unbrok- |
en- except by the city hall cat which |
scratched its ear in perplexity. All
the enthusiasm with which the trus- |
tees had unanimously ordered the city
attorney to prepare the resolution with |
It's fancy legal phrases had "petered !
out" "All dressed up with no place
to 60"
A sad ending, indeed for what prom
ised so well. The Dcming Chamber of
Commerce had without dissenting
vote recommended that the proposal to
buy the water plant he submitted to
the people and everything seemed love
ly. II is freely alleged that somebody
has taken the trouble to deal the pro
posal paralyzing blow. Anyway, It
Is dead for two long years at least, for
bond issues cannot be voted except AT
general elections.
The change in sentiment of the trus-
tees Is really In response to dominant
interests TINT do not believe in muni-
cipal ownership Of water plants, but
they encountered other objections and
met with very little encouragement In
the way Of demand on the part Of the
public for better water service. II was
urged that purchasing the plant would
not be sufficient and that enough ad
ditional bonds should be voted to re
place the worthless mains. The voting
of the purchase price of SG5, 900 seemed
lot, but to ask for thirty or forty
/ Thousand more for betterments was a
bit too strong and the trustees felt that
they might be blamed for buying Il
I"white elephant" Besides, they ar
gued, the real physical value of the
plant is unknown, though they all ad-
mitted that SGJ,0OO couldn't he expect
ed to buy much Of a water plant and
/ the equipment In sight ought 10 be
worth that much or more. There wasn't
sufficient time to get an estimate by an
engineer; the earning of the water
company also were unknown. In fact,
/ though the trustees have been talking
the matter over for several weeks, mo-
body had done any work ON the propo-
sal and the question was In no cundi-
tion TO be submitted 10 the scrutiny of
the voters. II was too "scary' 10 jump
right into and the ruStees hought 1t
Just as well 10 think the matter over
for few years in the hope that some
body will get busy and unearth some
figures.
The water company originally made
AN alternative offer, either they would
take $G5, 900 in per cent bonds or they
would take any sum based ON a valua-
ton made by competent and disintereSt-
ed engineers. II seems that some mem
hcrs of the board remember very clear
ly the estimates made by engineers In
connection with electric light rates,
and the important fact that engineers
recommended rates even higher than
the light company asked aud which
the board thought unreaSonably high
And these rates stuck Now the truS-
tees are bit nervous about sending
their own engineer around To tind out
really what the water plant is worth
There seems to exist sentiment that
the water plant is not very good bust
ness proposition and that il is just as
we'll to let the water company stand
the loss. IL Is estimated that the do
mestic water service is excellent,
though there has been some adverse
comment on rate Notwithstanding that
the rates were reduced last fall. The
water mains ON Gold and silver ave
.uues are too small and are pretty well
worn out, having been in the ground
some fifteen years. The water mains
all over the city are of the lightest ma
terial and will soon have to be replac-
y ed. This work will cost great deal
Of money and there is a feeling that 1t
would he just as well If the water COM
pany had to stand the expense. Anoth-
er canny "hunch" is that the city may
fall heir 10 the franchise, which has
about seven more years TO run.
without passing any Judgment on
the action of those interests that de-
feated the proposal. the Graphic pre-
diets that Deming'S water troubles can
l., dofaI From, last nirbf