Imperial Valley press., 1921-01-15
Vox PopuE
WATER OR GAS, WHICH?

Editor Imperial Valley Press:
In view of the terrible jolt that the
taxpayers Of Ell Centro have so re-
Gently received, it seems inconceivable
that there can be found single indi-
vidual in this community who has the
audacity to favor the voting of bonds
for any proposition, just at this time,
that will place further burden upon
the backs of the tax payers who are
now SO valiantly struggling to save
their very financial lives.
1t is impossible to believe that such
advocates fully comprehend the stu
alton and understand the existing con-
ditions now confronting the citizens
of Ell Centre.
At the tax payers mass meeting held
in this city on Dec. 6, and at which
meeting it was estimated that there
were present more than 500 tax pay
ers, amongst other resolutions passed
was the following: "Be it resolved
that no further bond issues, unless of
the most vital Importance, be coun-
tenanced until taxes have been brought
down to normal and reasonable
basis"
Note these words, "unless of the
most vital Importance"
'Now there is a proposition of "the
most vital Importance" that is going
to confront the people of Ell Centro at
no distant day which will require a
rather heavy bond issue, and this pro-
position, whether we like it or not. like
Banquo's ghost, will not down. 1t has
got, to be, taken care of sooner or
later. This is the city water problem.
Every person conversant with the
facts is aware that this is the cne vital
proposition to which the city must
give attention in he near future. This
problem of water has already been full
ly gone into and our needs in this re-
gard must be cognizant to all there
fore it is not necessary to put forth
any arguments favorable to a scheme
50 obvious, to every one. 1t is men,
toned at this time because the writer
proposes to show that it is absolutely
and manifestly impossible, with safe
ty, to have both a proper municipal
water plant and a city owned gas plant
until such time in the future. if our
town continues to grow, we shall have
a bonding capacity great enough to
take care of both propositions. This
whole problem, therefore, resolves it.
self down to the SAFE bonding capa-
city of the city. Now then, the valu-
ations of property in Ell Centro upon
which the city can levy taxes was this
last year raised about IS per cent: o,
to be exact from valuation in 1919
1920 of $4,249.250. to the enormous
valuation of $7,40O.673, for the yea,
192O-21. Some raise! There must
have been race on between the Ell
Centro trustees and the county asses
sor to see who could initiate values
the highest. The result will have to
be declared a draw. But, seriously,
whatever the conditions may have
appeared to be last year to allow such
a raise in values there is not a we'll
posted person in Ell Centro today who
does not realize that these inflated
values of real estate are at this time
fully double the present cash value
Now, this being true, that values have
been pyramided to 100 per cent more
than their actual cash value, it will
be the duty of the city as
sesor and the board of trustees to this
year junction this inflated balloon and
put values back again to where they
belong. No other course can be fol-
lowed with safety and conservatism.
This fact must be admitted by ALL
Now, when this is done, what is the
Simply this: we shall
then have left bonding capacity of
not to exceed 100000. 1t will re-
quire every dollar of this amount to
take care of our water bonds.
So. the matter simply resolves itself