The Coconino sun., 1923-04-20
BRIGHT PROSPECTS FOR FLAGSTAFF


There is every reason to believe that Flag
staff's water problem will soon be settled IN a
most satisfactory manner Our water supply IS
the most important thing IN our CIVIC llfe-and
upon it depends our growth and prosperity.
1t is generally conceded that the quality OF
Flagstaff pure mountain spring water derived
from melting SHOWS can not be excelled III any
part of the world
The conservation and development OF thus sup
ply has been difficult financial problem for the
past twenty-five years.
During the past ten years Flagstaff, that is
up to 1920, taking federal census figures, doub,
led population; since 1920 it has made rapid
gains, gains sufficient to make provident fore
seeing residents and the Santa Fe realize that
immediate provision should be made for our
rapid growth
The Santa Fe railway company in 1914 real
lied the necessity of additional water supply Re
gardless of old contentious and on the basis OF
an agreement which would protect them and
guarantee them fair share of the additional
water developed, they with good business Tore
sight loaned the city of Flagstaff S234 900 with
cut bonds but with the provision that they
should receive water for the interest at the
rate of 6 per cent The contract extended over
a time ending in 1939-sixteen years hence,
when the city could pay them back the $4,000
loaned.
With this agreement yet sixteen years to run,
Flagstaff and the Santa Fe find that our water
gineers employed by the city advise that the wa
ter supply is there in the basin of the San Fran
cisco peaks, awaiting further development and
additional reservoirs to conserve it to tide over
certain periods of the year when the flow is at
it's lowest. M 'ltt 80 8
The city council of Flagstaff, realizing our i'm
perative needs secured the services of experts to
examine and report in full on every proposed.
means of securing the needed additional water
supply When it was learned that the city
springs could by further development furnish
the supply of pure spring water, other projects
were naturally discarded. If it was possible TO
continue with water of quality for which Flag
staff had been so long famous, why change?
Flagstaff can not change the old agreement
with the Santa Fe without their consent and ap-
prevail The agreement between the Santa re
and the city of Flagstaff has never been "a mere
scrap of paper and both parties have lived up to
the agreement. Both realize now the necessity
of more development.
The proposed new agreement, which of course
is only tentative awaiting final approval,
i amounts to this:
The city of Flagstaff can, on the authority of
eastern bonding attorneys without question or
legal technicalities which would place our bonds
On the market at the highest price, bond
itself in round numbers for S392,000 The city
owes the Santa Fe 1924, 900 on the present water
system and can take it over in 1882 unless the
] city makes the payment. The Santa Fe has ta-
per cent interest on the investment at rate
Slightly in advance of the industrial rate of 20
cents per thousand gallons. ~ sa
The agreement. which all interested parties
seemed to feel would bring about the develop
ment of water and conserve all interests, was in
brief just this: sss.se
That the city of Flagstaff could issue water
bonds for 1892, 900.
OF this sum the city would pay the Santa Fe
Railway company S234,000.
This would leave only $158,000 for a new res
ervoir of fifty million gallons, the development
of the city springs and other improvement now
4 deemed necessary
The Santa Fe company is willing to accept a
payment, formulate new contract with the city
and loan or at least accept the agreement for
payment, less $76,000 and take the interest on
! this amount and payments in water, covering
period of about ten years.
In other words the city of Flagstaff could not
pay off the entire Indebtedness of the Santa Fe
/ and have sufficient funds to build the new res
] ervoir and furnish the needed additional sup
! ply of water for both the city and the Santa Fe
j The Santa Fe would loan Flagstaff $4,000 for
/ another ten years, Flagstaff having the privi-
lege of paying it off at t4any time before eXpira
t ton of the ten years That the complete and
/ lnreserved title to the water system is to be
/ vested in the city of Flagstaff
Flagstaff is now paying off old water debts at
/ the rate of $4,000 per year. If Flagstaff has
the water and conditions continue at the present
rate of growth and as Santa Fe experts predict
Flagstaff can pay out without increased taxa
tion
Increased valuation and increased profits from
the sale of water will be ample protection for the
city.
The queen bootIegger in Omaha says, since
she has made some $4,000, she feels that her
children should be brought up to respect their
mother and has graciously paid fine of $1O0