Pueblo chieftain., 1921-11-03
BY FRANK NJ. GRAY

A few evenings since l sat in a rub
Der of whist at the home of resident
OF the central mesa. The host was a
man of affairs. owns his own home.
as in fact did all four present, and
each was long resident OF the south
side
AT the conclusion of the games, with
honors about even, and light refresh
ments had been served by the wife OF
our host twho, by the way, is a past
mistress of the culinery arD our acas-
ual conversation drifted TO the ap-
preaching election and the candidates
up. The perfectos served We're superb.
The hosts vis-a-vis. department
executive at the steel works while mine
was a well known railroad man. both
residing on the mesa. One Of them
remarked the large number of candi-
dates UP, especially for the positions
OF trustees for water district No. ,.
You see," he concluded, I'VE four are
vitality interested in the selection of
these men to handle a property that
the south siders paid one million dol
lars for
We admitted the truth of his asser-
ton. After a pause and relighting his
cigar, our host took up the thread of
his conversation.
The matter of re-electing a board
of trustees TO handle the affairs of this
water district is subject to which
1 have given considerable attention
and serious thought he continued. Il
sources that conducting the districts
business calls for financial efficiency
as well as executive ability.
Wen start from the time We tax
payers over here voted $1,000 600 in
bonds to George Dunbaugh ct ais. TO
purchase the water supply system, then
an antiquated and practically obsolete
one. We are now paying approNi-
mately $4,000 annual interest on our
bonded Indebtedness. You see I'm get
ting at why the present board of trus-
tees were practically compelled to re-
duce the discount for prompt payment
of water rents-a matter of ten per
cent. Forty thousand dollars is only
one of several problems facing the
Then came the flood. an act of God
that no one can be blamed for. Flood
damages to water mains, at the reser-
voirs and other points. including the
getting. setting up and operating
mel of the river DETECTED from the re-
servoirs. Appropriated $4,000. Then
add to that the loss of thousands of
dollars In rental revenues, water mains
and laterals by flood devastation be-
tween the river and the mesa bluff.
All this cut big slice from the dis
trict's bank account. a member of
the board. told me the other day that
the least amount TO De figured on to
repair. flood damage would approxi-
mate $4,000.
The gentleman ceased talking and
meditated for a moment. apparently
refreshing his memory.
Keep going urged the railroad
man. Your remarks are Instructive.
ly interesting"
They are at least founded on truths
which / have learned from reliable
sources" smiled the speaker.
You gentlemen know the govern
ment expended something like s35. 900
for emergency repairs at the reser-
voirs, yet there remains much work to
be done at the expense of the south
side district before the supply plant
can be put in good a condition as
1t was before the flood.
The annual reports shows that prior
to the world war the district had each
year accumulated a substantial sum
TO apply on its bonded debt as well
as permanent improvement of the dis
trict's water system. During and since
the war the district has hardly been
able to more than care for current ex-
penses. Why? You know. Double and
/ treble costs of material. machinery.
labor. coal, iron pipe. lime and sui
phate of iron for reservoir settling
and clarifying purposes.
Il also found out that the district
has no source of income outside of
current revenues. Yet there are be-
tween four and five miles of old wood