Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1923-04-06

tSlu2,uUV.oUb Dollars. cash. for these
properties a. a going concern.
In case this offer j. accepted wa
would expect a fifty l50l year franchise
granted in accordance with the general
provisions OF the State Laws
This offer II based upon present rates
for lights and water remaining in force
for 4 period Of two years. unless same
are changed BY mutual agreement.
From our joint Investigations IL ia
apparent that by the judic;ous use OF
the sum We are offering for these prop
critics the City tax levy for interest and
sinking fund could be reduced "a little
more than one dollar which would give
Z resultant decrease in taxes of Sixty
Six Thousand tSG6O0O00) Dollars per
year on basis Of your present tax val
uation of Six Million Six Hundred Thou
sand ts6.soo.oo0.oo) Dollars.
For your information we are attaching
a copy Of the statement showing actual
annual per kilowatt ecst Of electricity
and actual annual per thousand gallon
cost Of water 20 each one Of represent
tative list Of fifty citizens selected by
you and prepared jointly by you and
ourselves.
''very sincerely.
"MorriSon A. McC0ll,
BIZ X. w. Morrison.
s. q. Tucker in "A brief address follow
ing the reading of the syndicate's pro-
position. stated that the application Of
the sum proposed 70 be paid for the
plant. when applied 20 the ctys indcb-
tedncss would reduce the tax rate ap-
proximately SiO0. and compilation
made M the instance Of the syndicate,
was presented showing when this pro-
posed tax reduction was added TO the
rates being paid for light and water. tho
rate was in reality much higher than
other cities were paying Mayor Cole ex-
pressed the opinion, however, that the
tax rate would not Dc reduced 10 that ex-
tent. due TO part of the earnings of the
plant being placed in the general fund.
W. r. Morrison explained the object or
Of the syndicate in endeavoring to secure
the Brownsville plant. stating that they
had been attracted to the Valley by its
rapid development: that the syndicate
had purchased practically all plants in
the Valley with the object OF establish.
ing central plant. which would be high
ly efficient and which would he enabled
to supply the entire Valley with current
at a lower rate than separate plants In
each town. He stated that the syndicate
would cooperate with the various COM
munities in Valley development: that its
rates would be fair. and that In addition
to supplying towns and cities IL would
also supply power for irrigation pumps
and various Industries. He added that i'm
his opinion the reduction Of the tax rate
in Brownsville would not be the most
important benefit to accrue TO the city
through the acceptance Of the proposi-
ton: that the development of the agri-
cultural and industrial interests which
would follow the establishment Of u
vallcy-widc system would prove of far
greater benefit than tax reduction.
l.. Coholini then addressed the meeting
and declared that he was strictly con-
WINGED that to sell Brownsville's muni-
cpal plant would be little less than q
calamity. "What would the city OF
Brownsville have done for fund the past
two years If il had not been for the rev.
enues or the light and water plant ?" he
asked He exhibited number Of state
that during the years 1g2i-1y22 the light
plant had earned total of $25e -290.G0.
OF this amount si36,s3012 had been ex-
pended in operating and repairs, ST.
c32.lS for extensions and repairs and
si9.0Ts.7i had gone to the general fund.
The net gain from the plant during these
two years, in addition 10 furnishing
light and water 20 the city. had been
Sl22 .46O-57, he stated.
Mr. Cobolini stated that he was "bit-
terly opposed" to the sale OF the plant,
and suggested that its administration ba
removed from the city government and
placed IN the hands or citizens COM
mittee. He stated that prior TO 1922 no
attempt had been made TO keep the rec
ords or the water and light plant sep
arate from other municipal interests.
'sThe light and water plant has been
kicked and abused ~ stated, "but 10
has supplied the city with funds which
otherwise it would have been necessary
to raise by taxation"
Following Mr.. coholini's talk the mo.
tion was made by y. r. Canalcs that the
offer of the syndicate be rejected by the
meeting Mr.. Canales stating that he
considered the offer entirely too low.
This aroused con siderable discussion i'm
which il was pointed out that as few per-
sons IN the meeting had sufficient tech
meal knowledge Of the plant or OF its
capacity and value. other than
that reported BY the consulting engin-
eers. the meeting was not in position to
20 on record either in rejecting or rec
the proposition. Mr. Canales
then Withdrew his motion. and a motion
hat the committee make further inves-
LEGATIONS and report With definite rec
NJ a Meeting ~ Ne called
by the committee received unanimous
vote.
The rerert on light and water rates
paid by fifty representative consumers
Of the city proved very interesting. This
report was compiled unon the assump-
ton that the acceptance or the syndi-
rates proposition would reduce the tax
rate Si0o. and gave the light and water
rates paid BY these consumers. together
(Continued on page Sd