Gunnison news-champion., 1922-02-17
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addition would have to be built onto
the plant.
About 900 feet of water main would
be added to the plant, serving many
rapidly growing sections of the town
that have long been entitled to water
service. The present estimated cost of
laying the mains including necessary
firc plugs, is $2-25 per foot.
To remedy the effects on our drink
ing water Of the spring floods, Supt.
keenan, proposes filter at the river
intake which would absolutely do away
with the bad taste of the water during
the spring high water. This filter
would cost somewhere in the neigh
borhood of $25O0 to $4,000.
A roof for the reservoir on Smelter
Hill was suggested, but as this would
be extremely expensive, and is not an
imperative need at this time, il was
practically decided to abandon plans
for this.
The total improvements required
will cost about $4,000. A fifty thous-
and dollar bond issue is proposed,
leaving $4,000 margin to care for
unforeseen contingencies. This bond
issue will have no effect on taxation
whatever, according to Mayor Steele
and the trustees, who state that the
plant can pay itself out easily.
The financial statement for 1921,
Town Of Gunnison, which appears on
page four of this issue, indicates that
the light and water plant showed a
gain of S9,372.0i for the past year.
This, however, includes paper credit
of 81 200 for street lights, 81 $50 for
porch lights and S2950 for fire protec-
tion and sewer flushing. The total
bonded indebtedness of the plant is
$4,000.
An interesting statement Of tax
figures was prepared by b. II. Jorgen-
sen from the tax rolls at the court
house. This statement shows that
out of total of 713 schedules paying
town taxes, four of them pay 90 per
cent of the total tax, ten pay 38 per
cent and 20 pay over so per cent of
the total. Mr.. Steele, in discussing
the statement, reported that nearly all
of these 25 heavy taxpayers were
heartily in favor of the proposed i'd
ditions to the plant.
Superintendent keenan, and the
trustees, as well as everyone familiar
with the plant, believe that the ad-
ditions are absolutely necessary be-
fore next fall. Machinery and cleo
trical supplies show a decrease of
about twenty per cent to twenty-five
and cast iron has gone down forty per
cent.
Among others who discussed the
matter. favorably were E. M. Nourse,
II. j. knight, Fritz Zugelder, Frank f.
Keenan,, E. NJ. Russell, C. H. Stone, II.
H. Fogg. and A. w. Hogan.
The spirit of Mondays mass meet
ing, as moved and voted, was to leave
the matter Of issuing the bonds to the
initiative Of the council. Under the
law the trustees are entitled to pro-
coed in an emergency without consult
ing the voters, and as the general
spirit seems to believe that a true en-
ergency exists, it is possible that the
bonds will be issued without the ad-
ditional expense of special election.
However, as this election would natur-
ellly come about the time of the usual
April town election, and the public
would undoubtedly prefer to be con-
suited concerning a .s5O,00O.0O bond
issue, chances are it will be decided to
present the matter at that time.
Interest rates on bonds have now
dropped to slightly below per cent
Montrose sold an issue at 400 short
time ago, and it is believed that with
in short time rates will be down TO
Az per cent. As it seems necessary
to get part of the material for the
changes on the ground at once, It is
suggested that the supplies be purch-
ased with warrants which would be
taken up in a few months with the
bonds. In this way advantage could
be taken of any drop in bond interest
rates.