Imperial Valley press., 1920-08-14
WATER RATES
INCREASE
REASONS
GIVEN
Users Protest Increase of
100 Per Cent. City Fathers
Explain Increased Costs.
Say Raise Temporary.

Ahc IcScuC raise OI water rates OK
100 per cent by the city council has
called forth considerable comment. The
Press, in endeavoring to clarity the
situation, prints both sides of the
story, so far as we are able to obtain
it today
Althea Gillian, who owns residence
Oh Commercial street, is said to have
paid water bill Of $40 for the month
ofJuly. This would mean, taking the
month of July as an average, $12O a
year for water for lot said to amount
to $4O0 in value. Arthur S. Fell, Of
622 Commercial street paid water
bill for last month of $9.4O for water
for a family of five, living on a Is
foot lot containing no lawn or trees,
according to his statement. He says
that in June his bill was $1.40.
Richard Cohen, court interpreter,
!says that for the month Of July he
paid bill of 1920, while his bill had
previously been in the neighborhood
! 1t has been argued by men we'll
known in the city that some form
OF taxation or assessment should be
adopted to more nearly equalize the
water costs.
In regard to the water situation the
city fathers gave to The Press the fol-
lowing explanation Of the increase in
water bills:
The present water rates were insti-
tuted in 1914. The statement of the
city fathers gives the following per-
centage of increase in costs Of main
tanning the water service.
Labor-1914, $500; 1920, $3.50; in
crease of 1875 per cent.
Fuel Oil-1914, 5 cents; 1920, 16
cents; increase of 220 per cent.
Cast Iron Pipe-1914, 500 a ton;
1870, $96 ton; increase Of 308 per
cent.
Iron Pipe-Average increase $50
per cent.
Pipe Fittings-Average increase 1873
per cent.
In addition to which the city COM
imissioners say that previously they
nave been furnishing settled water.
while now filtered water is being sup
Piled. They also state that when the
water service was turned over to them
depreciation fund had been provided
for.
The water service, they say, is a
municipal corporation, and is, there
fore prevented by state law from be-
ing assisted by taxation from other
funds. Speaking of expenses they
said that while it costs approximately
10 cents foot to dig bitches in 1914
it now costs about so cSlts a Soot.
They stated that they knew the
present rate was excessive. but that
within a short time they hoped to have
matters arranged so that different de-
partments using city water will paw a
larger sum, thus bringing a material
reduction in water rates. The city
council does not promise water at the
rate previous to the raise in rates, but
does promise satisfactory lowering of
the rates charged at present.
In comparison the city fathers stat
ed that Calexico, whose rates they say
are at present but trifle lower than
the increased rates here, will be
raised on the first of August. They
also said that practically every other
municipal water works in Southern
California had been forced to raise
their rates.
They explained that water works
could not be run on taxation because
OF its being a municipal corporation.
compelled by state law to be self-sup-
porting.
The water bills of the city commits
sioners are printed below:
Imperial Valley Baking company,
Mayor Ohmstede) paid in June SIS,
In July the Imperial Valley Baking
company paid $50,
The bill Of Jasper Travers for June
was $3.50; for July, $6.98.
The bill Of w. A. Reams for June
was $500; for July, $7.22.
The bill Of G. e. Pitzer for June was
N.43; for July, 1925.
9. Z. Sones used $4,000 gallons Of
water during June for which he paid
$2.63. He used 5000 gallons in July
fol-. which he paid $2.14.
During the month of May the water
departments assets were $2306.i9, the
liabilities were $3652.5O. For June
the sssets were $2353.l9 while the
liabilities were $3559.69. This, the
councilmen argue, is alone sufficient
reason for raising the rates.