Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1921-03-29

Chet Sweet, a resident of this city
The deceased was born November %
1880 in Michigan.
The many friends of the deceased
join in mourning his sudden death and
extend their sympathies to the be-
reaved relatives.
panies desiring to locate in this dis
trict Our city would be in a position
to attract new industries as well as
to develop the present ones.
Unless the proposed bond issue car
ries Bonners Ferry stands to lose its
right to the Moyie power site. This
site as it now stands is worth $685. 900
If the bond issue fails the title to tho
site will undoubtedly pass into private
ownership and should the city at some
later date desire to acquire il the
chances are that the cost will be pro-
Initiative. Why should Bonners Fer
ry neglect this wonderful opportunity?
Why not develop this birthright of the
people? Sober reason commands a
vote for the bond issue
1t would not be economy to endeavor
to install new machinery and rebuild
the Myrtle creek plant. This would
mean the expenditure of a great deal
of money and at the best you would
have limited amount of power. In
offering $4,000 to Mr.. Featherstone
for the water and power systems the
town board of trustees did not figure
that they were paying cent for
the Myrtle creek plant. The engineers
employed by the city made their ap-
praisal of the water and light systems
without considering the value of the
Myrtle creek plant. They figured that
the remainder of the two systems was
worth the $4,000.
! The citizens of Bonners Ferry and
the taxpayers especially, should pause
to consider some of the disadvantages
of privately owned water and light
systems. Private ownership in this
city has been a detriment to the town
All expenditures and improvements to
the equipment and the service have
been delayed until the last minute;
until the long suffering public has re-
volted against existing conditions.
There is never any cooperation look
ing towards the improvement Of con-
ditions or the general welfare of Bon
ners Ferry Under private ownership
you find leaky water mains under the
paved streets and already we have two
large patches in an improvement that
cost our town many thousands of dol
lars. In a few years more we will
have no pavement left We will still
have the electric light poles on our
main streets. Under private owner
ship we will still have inadequate
power and service because with the
individual it is a matter of securing
revenues as large as possible and
giving as little as possible in re-
turn. Private ownership of water
and light systems has never been
satisfactory. 1t means selfish,
narrow policy. 1t is especially det
rimental to the town where the
individuals owning the system re-
side in some other state or in some
other part of the same state.
When the city acquires the water
system it will be possible to provide
plenty of water at all seasons of the
year for there will be plenty of power
with which to pump water There will
be no necessity of shutting off the
lights while water is being pumped
1t will be possible TO supply pure
water IT can easily be filtered and it
would soon be possible to provide arte-
sian wells from which to supply the
water for domestic use. There would
be plenty of light for street purposes
at no additional cost to the city. Just
now the state utilities commission is
threatening to raise the water rates
of Bonners Ferry because the city is
using water for street washing and
sprinkling purposes. Just think of it
Don't we pay enough for water now?
And these things will keep on, rates
will keep on advancing, just as long
as we have privately owned water and
light systems.
Included in the proposed bond issue
is small sum for the construction of
a city hall. Some may ask, what is
the need of a city hall?
The city now owns a suitable site
for a city hall. If such a building is
constructed 1t will be used to house
the fire department equipment. The
present fire station is about ready to
collapse and a new building would
cost 81 900 or S1,500.
The proposed city hall would pro-
/. vide quarters for the city water and
light offices, if the bond issue carries
anu tnlS WOulu save ABOUT 9l,OOU year
, in rent money.
The new city hall would provide
quarters for the city free library which
is growing rapidly and room could
be used for free reading room; the
councilmen could have regular place
to meet and could save some 1920 a
year usually spent for rent Of council
chambers; quarters could be provided
for the city clerk and marshall and
! Continued on last page)