Imperial Valley press., 1922-02-20


out Of the red on the 1st day of Janu-
ary, 1922, with balance to it's credit
Of $594. February 10, 1921, the De-
partment faced deficit of S1O,16777.
and this in spite of the fact that
tolls had been raised in the June pre-
ceeding 50 per cent above that ruling
in the previous year, with reduced |
minimum allotment to meter consum
ers.
The public did not know how it
happened, and the department has
come in for adverse criticism from |
those who have been forced to SEE
their trees and lawns and flowers
die because Of the high cost of water |
TO keep them growing.
With Superintendent OFT, the re-
porter looked the plant over today |
and heard Of its condition eighteen
months ago, as well as Of the status
| of the Water department at this date
When Mr.. OFT took charge, the
filter system was out of commission
completely clogged with sand and
mud and Of little service. At cost
Of $500, the filters were thoroughly
cleaned and put in running order
again; the Superintendent has seen to
| it that the machinery of this i'm
portant part of the system has been
kept in proper condition from that
day to this. He states that if proper
care and attention is given to tn.
filters, no large expenditure at one
time will be required again for sew
eral years.
Other machinery has been thor
oughly renovated and put into work
ing order, two cement gates have
been built of reina5rced concrete,
three landing blocks have been in
stalled and the wiring which was con-
sidered defective and dangerous, has
all been done over. The buildings
and tanks have all been thoroughly
painted. A new motor, gasoline en-
gine and second one hundred horse
power motor inside, have been pur-
chased and installed. A total of
$4,000 for permanent improvements
has been spent, all of which has
been paid out of the monthly in
come of the Department. Improve
merts have been made in arrange
ment for disposal of the mud, the
basins have been thoroughly cleaned
as often as required, and the entire
system shows that the Superintend-
ent is not asleep on his job.
The machinery looks clean, and the
inside arrangements of the big build
, ing are orderly and we'll arranged as
work shop should be- "All this has
cost money" said Mr. OFT, "but you
can say to your readers, that the
funds have not been wasted in tenn
porary expedient. 1t has been our
aim to do constructive work that will
last"
Mr.. OFT believes that under the
present system Of pumping, the cost
of power is entirely too great. He
favors installing new machinery fo1
the purpose, which will generate
power sufficient to run the plant al
half the price the City is now paying.
The difference, he says would cover
the monthly payments required to
purchase the machinery, and the City
would own it's plant with its own pow.
er, in time, and be rid of at least one
source of expense which is adding to
the cost of water to consumers.
The pay roll of the department has
been greatly reduced since Mr.. OFT
mas DeeH III cHdrge. III JANUARY, lJZl
it amounted to $2,082.0S. One year
later, January, 1922, it amounted to
$1,10S.40 for the month. With every
thing running smoothly, the eX-
penses are not expected to be heav-
ier during the summer months, as
has been the case in former years
The Superintendent believes that tolls
received from meter consumers will
be sufficient to run the system, and
that the quarterly payments from
flat rate consumers will become 8
surplus to be used as the Council
shall determine. He himself favors
material reduction in rates at the
earliest possible moment. He has seen
with regret that the beautifyine Of
homes has been neglected because of
the high price of water, that the de-
partment has been obliged to charge
while putting the system in proper
condition to supply the demand
Brawley is serving the City on flat
rate, no meters ever having been in
stalled for homes; Mr.. OFT hopes to-
see the same system in force in FL
Centre. Various expenditures can be
cut off, if the meters are dispensed
with which would aid in cheaper pro-
duction, and which would rebound =
the benefit of property owners of the