, 1923-12-20

speaking DeIOre n weekly lun'
last Thursday.
1.-THE city has no defense a
taxpayer will have the great pie,
to nearly double its present fig
of the contract can be paid within a
very few years at most.
Interest on such judgment until
paid will be at the rate Of z per cent
as compared to 6 per cent stipulated
for the $4,000 bond issue. Con-
trasted to this almost disastrous
method Of paying for the balance OF
the system not covered by the origi-
nal issue in a few years at most, we
find that, to provide interest charg-
es on the $140,0 900 and a sinking
fund sufficient to retire the indebt-
edness in 30 years, tayes will be In
creased in Rawlins but $500 per
$1,000 valuation. The question
seems to be whether Rawlins citizens
wish to spread the burden OF paying
for their system over a period OF ~
years, or pay for $4,000 worth OF
1t from the taxes Of a few years. BY
reason of the contract betwee this
city and the Producers & Refiners
Corporation the system will pay Tor
itself long before the 30 years are
up. and in addition, 1t is only fair
that people coming here later pay
for some OF the benefits derived from
the better water supply"
The speaker also explained exactly
why the city had entered into a con-
tract for It's water system in which
a definite sum was not specified, as
in the case Of contracts for build
ings, etc.
II the city had insisted upon max
ing such a contract with a definite
amount specified those contractors
considering the work would nave
been forced to 60 over every foot OF
the ground to be traversed by the
pipe line. No man will contract to
do certain ditching for a specified
sum unless he knows exactly the
character OF the material to be re-
moved. II six contractors had made
this expensive preliminary survey
which could not have been done for
less than $1,000 each only one would
have received the award and the
others would have entirely lost the
money expended. In work OF this
sort, contracts are never let, there
fore, for a stipulated sum. but rath-
or for a stipulated sum per unit OF
material removed, classification OF
material taking place as actual dig
cling progresses.
In order to know whether IT was
getting a fair bid the city would also
have to make an expensive prelimi-
nary survey. None of this expense
would be productive and must all in
crease the cost OF any system as
straight overhead expense. 1t must
be borne in mind that the character
of the country crossed by the pipe
lines has not changed. Rock was
rock before digging started. and
earth was earth. Exhaustive sur
veys, which our engineers are capa-
BILE OF making. would have disclosed
the exact nature Of h g material
but to no end except increasing the
cost Of the system by several thous-
and dollars. The Rawlins water
system, therefore. Is actually costing
thousands OF dollars less than 1t
might have, and not n cent more
than Il would have had every pound
OF material dug been known before
digging started.
The same reasoning applies to
pressure on the line which necesst-
tated additional iron bands. accord
ing to tho speaker. Surveys could
have been made that would have
shown to a fraction OF q pound what
tho pressure would have been. But
this again would have been more
overhead. avoided in all contracts
for projects Of this sort by means
OF . sliding scale based on actual
conditions encountered.
In many . the fall OF the line
below its starting point was deliber'
atsly Increased. Tho authorities In
charge did this to increase the vol.
ume q water flowing through the
pipe. II b reasonable to suppoea
that water will flow faster through
Q pipe tilted At an angle OF Is deg
soss than through one barely OF the
level.
A. the close Of Mr.. Rosters stats.
meats. members Of the Lions club
woee fully convinced Of the necessity
for passing the $4,000 bond heus
~ the coming election. Tho Clue
had unanimously voted to support
the issue In every way possible q
"a earlier time.
Another most Interesting featurs
Of the meeting was the presence Of
The High School basketball team,
town and school at Rock SPRING.
aad orssa River. md It's coach. M
DeLacsy. the coach. introduced each
man With . few remarks about bis
record. These most welcome guests
wers - follows: John Engstrom,
ceatsr; Carl Bnestrom. right for.
yad:. Edward Qutnu, left forward:
Charles Carr. left forward; Lex
Vlvton, left naAA. Rmarson patcs
right guard; Boyd Conjey. eusrd
and George Weller. manager.