The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1922-04-01
What Would Mr.. Walton Have Done
to Reduce the City Water Rates? ?

ton seems to expect lower water rates in the future by
some sort Of miracle-or by reason of his commend
able desire for them. But no miracle will happen.
What must happen is Just what has been happen
ing. Business brains must continue at work on this
water supply problem, until it is completely worked
out, the plant expanded to great capacity and the con-
sumption increased in proportion. Then volume pro-
duction will permit lower rates.
Thanks to the efforts of the present commissioners
that time is right at hand-if the people determine to
support business government.
This city bought a water plant which, while in fair
shape, had not recently been improved or enlarged.
There was an immediate necessity for extending mains
and increasing the supply. On top of this came the
demands for street paving and the necessity for laying
larger mains ahead of the paving.
The commissioners put all the surplus earnings of
the water plant into increasing the supply and extend
ing the service. Those things took precedence over
lower rates, OF course.
When the paving demand came this city had no
money, from the water plant or any other source, to
pay for pipe for mains. AS a last resort public spir-
tied citizens, at the instance of public spirited banks
and at the request of the commissioners. signed per-
sonal notes to a total of SIS, 900. while the banks car
ried SIS 600 more to pay for these mains.
Those notes have just been paid of-out OF earn
ings of the water plant. In addition some $35, 900
more has gone into new wells, additional pumping
capacity, mains, and necessary requirements.
Thus of the 100000 earnings which MIR. Magee
says should have been given to the people in lower
water rates, SIS, 900 has been put into wells, pumps
and water mains so that those people who otherwise
would not have had running water in their homes,
might be supplied, and so that the city might be pro-
tected from fire.
Which would have been the wiser policy-to cut
the rates and soak the taxpayer; TO cut the rates and
neglect the plant and risk the supply for fire protec-
ton and domestic water needs of a great many peo-
ple;-or to follow the course the commissioners have
followed?
Which course would Mr.. Walton have chosenp IF
he is perfectly sincere with the voters and with him
self, he will follow up his statement quoted above, by
telling the voters what course he would have chosen.
Then the voters can Judge better his ability as a bust
ness man and a public executive.
BY following the course ney chose the commits
sioners have put the water plant in the best possible
condition for expansion-they have provided an ade-
quate water supply for domestic water and fire pro-
lection; and they have put the city in a position to buy
and pay for the water plant expansions which will
permit lower ates-immediately those improvements
are complete. Everybody recognizes the desirability
of lower water rates. Everybody wants them. Ting
ley and a few others equally prodigal Of speech and
sparing of thought. misled many people with reckless
and unnecessary promises OF lower water rates imme-
diately the city became the owner of the plant.
The present city commissioners are the only ones
who have ever actually DONE anything toward pro-
viding lower water rates. They have made the prog
ress noted above. They have done il. not by idle con-
versation and criticism of others. They have progress
sed to where success is in sight, by careful. painstak-
ing business methods, and hard, unselhsh work.
Within Albuquerque'S Reach Should Be Left
Mclaughlin and Reynolds.